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ONLY DOLLIE 

A STORY FOR GIRLS 


BY 

NINA RHOADES 


ILLUSTRATED BY 

BERTHA G. DAVIDSON 

BOSTON 

LEE and SHEPARD 
1901 




THE LIBRARY OF 
CONGRESS, 
Two Copies Received 

JUL. 10 1901 

Copyright entry 
^ o f 

CLASS CUXXc. N*. 
COPY B. 


Copyright, iqoi, by LEE & SHEPARD 


A// rights reserved 


Only Dollie 


nortpoob Press 

Berwick & Smith, Norwood, Mass., 

U. S. A. 


Contents 


CHAPTER PAGE 

I. Dollie 7 

II. Dollie’s Adventure 30 

III. The People in Number Thirty-six 50 

IV. Dollie Makes a Friend 65 

V. Visiting 82 

VI. Stolen Sweets 107 

VII. Dollie Entertains a Singular Guest 144 

VIII. Shopping for Christmas 156 

IX. A Dreadful Accusation 169 

X. Dick Makes a Call and a Discovery 190 

XI. Home and Friends 200 

Conclusion 21 1 




List of Illustrations 


“ ril take care of you, Dollie ” Frontispiece 

PAGE 

Dollie helps Sarah with the dishes 20 

“ Oh, give it to me, give it to me,” cried poor Dollie. . 44 ^ 
The visitor was sitting between Ralph and Tootie tak- 
ing part in the “ tea party ” 72 

She drew Dollie to her, and kissed her 100 

“ What money are you talking about ? ” she demanded 

sharply 128 

“Don’t you feel well?” asked Dollie timidly 150 

'Dollie crept softly out of bed and knelt down and 
folded her hands 


207 



ONLY DOLLIE 


CHAPTER I 

DOLLIE 

Cinderella and the prince got mar- 
r\ ried, and he took her away in the glass 
coach, to his beautiful palace, and they 
lived happily ever after. Now you really must go 
to sleep, Ralph; IVe told you three stories to- 
night, and you know I promised only two.^’ 

“ Want anover ! ” announced Ralph, regarding 
Dollie with very wide open eyes. “ Ain’t sleepy ! 
won’t go to sleep.” 

‘‘ But you must go to sleep like a good boy. 
Look at Too tie; she’s been asleep for most half an 
hour.” 

“ Tootle'S a baby and I ain’t. Tell me anover 
story.” 

The clock on the mantel struck seven, and Dol- 
lie’ s heart sank. 


7 


8 


ONLY DOLLIE 


If s long past dinner-time, Ralph, and Tm 
very hungry. You wouldn’t like poor Dollie to 
have to go without any dinner, would you ? ” 

“ Tell Sarah to bring your dinner up here. I 
don’t want to stay all alone in the dark.” 

You won’t be alone, Tootie’s here, and be- 
sides, I’ll leave the door open on a crack, so 
you can see the light from the hall. You can 
hear us talking down stairs, and if you want 
a drink or anything, you’ll only just have to 
call me. Sarah couldn’t bring my dinner up 
here; your mamma wouldn’t let her, you know 
she wouldn’t.” 

Ralph considered. Perhaps it might be a good 
plan to let Dollie go. Dollie was very kind to 
him, and she wanted her dinner. Ralph objected 
very much to being kept waiting for his own 
dinner. 

“ If I go right to sleep, will you let me eat just 
as much sugar as I like to-morrow ? ” he inquired, 
descending to compromise. 

“ Oh, Ralph, I couldn’t do that ; it might make 
you sick, and then what would your mamma say ? 
But,” with a sudden inspiration, “ I’ll tell you 
what I will do. If you go straight to sleep, and 
don’t make any more fuss. I’ll take you and Tootie 
to the park to-morrow, and you shall both have a 


DOLLIE 


9 


ride in one of the goat carriages. Oh, you’ll love 
that, I know you will.” 

'' Perhaps mamma won’t give us the money,” 
suggested Ralph, doubtfully. 

“ We won’t ask her. I’ve got some money of 
my own ; Uncle Frank gave me two dollars for my 
birthday, and I haven’t spent it yet. I meant to 
buy some new hair ribbons with it, but I guess 
there’ll be enough for that, and to pay for the 
goat carriage too. Come now, Ralph ; a big boy 
of five years old ought to be ashamed to talk about 
being afraid of the dark.” 

‘‘ Well,” said Ralph, with some reluctance, 
“ you may go if you want to, but give me a drink 
first, and be sure you leave the door open, a big, 
wide crack, not just a tiny one.” 

Dollie rose with alacrity. She had been sitting 
on the floor, with her back resting against the side 
of Ralph’s crib. She was very tired, and her back 
ached. She had carried Tootie all the way home 
from the park that afternoon, and that was no 
very easy task, for Tootie was a remarkably heavy 
child for three years old. But Dollie had decided 
that it was easier to carry her than drag her along 
screaming through the streets, for Tootie had 
strong lungs, and was fond of exercising them 
when things did not go precisely as she wished. 


lO 


ONLY DOLLIE 


Dollie was only twelve, and her back was not very 
strong, but nobody ever remembered that. 

“You’re sure about the goat carriage; you’re 
not just saying it to make me go to sleep, the 
way Sarah says things sometimes,” inquired 
Ralph, anxiously, as Dollie brought him his 
drink of water, and tucked in the clothes, 
which the restless little legs had already dis- 
arranged. 

Dollie’s pale little face flushed suddenly. 

“You know I never tell stories, Ralph — when 
I say I’ll do a thing I mean it.” 

“Yes, that’s true,” agreed Ralph, struck by the 
force of the argument. “ Sarah doesn’t, and 
Flora doesn’t, and mamma doesn’t always, but 
you always do. Are you going now? Be sure 
you leave the door open a good wide crack.” 

The family were more than half through din- 
ner when Dollie, looking flushed and tired, en- 
tered the dining-room, and slipped into her place 
at the table. No one took any special notice of 
her. Mr. Foster gave her a rather troubled 
glance, as he helped her to a piece of mutton 
which was no longer hot; Mrs. Foster only paused 
long enough in her conversation with her niece. 
Flora Rogers, to inquire curtly, “ children both 
asleep?” and on Dollie’s nodding assent, went 


DOLLIE 


ii 


on with the account of the call she had been mak- 
ing that afternoon. 

It really is a most attractive looking house/’ 
she was saying as Dollie entered the room ; “I 
think they must have a great deal of money. They 
have some magnificent pictures. You see, Mrs. 
Norris was dressing when I came, so I had plenty 
of time to look round while I was waiting for her 
to come down.” 

‘‘What was she like?” inquired Flora, with 
interest. 

“ Oh, she is rather a quiet little body ; I didn’t 
think much of her style. She thanked me for being 
so neighborly, though, and seemed very pleasant. 
She says they are scarcely settled yet.” 

“ I hope you mentioned me,” said Flora. “ I’ve 
seen those two Norris girls going in and out 
several times, and I should like to know 
them. There’s a son, too, who goes to Col- 
umbia — I meet him every morning on my way to 
school.’"^ 

“ Oh, yes, I told her I had a niece just about the 
age of her daughters, spending the winter with 
me, and she said she hoped you would call. Being 
such near neighbors, you ought to get very well 
acquainted, and you know I like to have you rqake 
friends among nice people. Mrs. Scott tells me 


12 


ONLY DOLLIE 


these Norrises are a very fine family, and move in 
the very best set.’^ 

Dollie had been listening to the conversation 
with deep interest, and now, as Mrs. Foster paused 
for a moment, she ventured to ask a rather timid 
question. 

“ Excuse me, please, but are they the new 
people in number Thirty-six?” 

Mrs. Foster and Flora both looked surprised, 
and the former inquired sharply — 

'' Why, what do you know about them ? ” 
Nothing, only I saw them come,” faltered 
Dollie, and — and Fve seen them at the windows 
sometimes since. I like to watch them ; they seem 
to be always having such good times.” 

I hope you haven’t been staring over at their 
windows,” said Mrs. Foster, severely. It is a 
very rude, unladylike thing to do, and besides you 
ought not to waste your time in such a foolish 
way.” 

Dollie did not try to justify her conduct. She 
had found during her two years’ acquaintance 
with Mrs. Foster, that it was much the wisest plan 
never to contradict that lady. She would not 
have spoken at all, had not the subject of the 
people in number Thirty-six been such a very in- 
teresting one to her. The Foster’s number was 


DOLLIE 


13 


Thirty-seven, consequently the two houses were 
directly opposite to each other. Dollie had not 
many interests in life, and she could scarcely have 
told herself why the cheerful, happy-looking fam- 
ily in the opposite house should have proved such 
a fascination to her. She had never spoken to one 
of them ; she had never even heard their name un- 
til this evening, but she had known them all by 
sight ever since the day, more than a month ago 
now, when they had moved in, bringing such a 
load of trunks and boxes that she had wondered 
how one family could possibly manage to possess 
so many things. There was the broad-shouldered, 
cheerful looking father, the gentle, sweet-faced 
mother, the big, handsome college boy, and the 
two merry little school girls, and there were 
half a dozen servants besides. The thing that 
had struck Dollie most forcibly about them was 
that they all seemed so happy, and so fond of 
each other. Sh-e had seen the little girls com- 
ing to the front door to kiss their father good- 
bye when he started out in the morning; she 
had seen the mother nodding and smiling to them 
from the window, as they started for school, 
accompanied by a trim maid and she had 
seen them all walking to church together 
on Sundays, a little girl walking on each side of 


14 


ONLY DOLLIE 


her tall ‘ brother, and the father and mother fol- 
lowing close behind. It was all so cheerful, and so 
comfortable. Dollie used to wonder what it 
would be like to have a father and mother and 
brothers and sisters, who all loved each other, a 
carriage to drive in, and a maid to take her about. 
She wondered if those girls were as grateful for 
their blessings as she felt sure she would have 
been under the circumstances. She had even 
made up stories about them, and imagined how 
delightful it would be, if, through some entirely 
unlikely, not to say impossible course of events, 
she should somehow make their acquaintance, and 
be admitted within that bright, pleasant-looking 
house. Not that it was at all probable that Mrs. 
Foster would let her go, even if she were asked, 
but it was a pleasant thing to think about, and 
there were not so many pleasant things in poor lit- 
tle Dollie’s life. 

And now Mrs. Foster had called, and Flora was 
to call too, and perhaps those nice girls might 
come to see them. It seemed almost as interest- 
ing as though some of her favorite characters in 
story books, The Old Fashioned Girl,’’ or 
“ Donald and Dorothy,” should be coming to 
lunch. No wonder she forgot to eat her dinner 
in the interest of the conversation. But Mrs. 


DOLLIE 


15 


Foster^s reproof fell like a dash of cold water on 
her fast rising hopes. She had never, never meant 
to be rude and unladylike. She did not think 
she had really stared. She had been interested, 
that was all, and it had somehow made her glad 
to think that there were some happy people in the 
world. The Fosters had never struck her as par- 
ticularly happy; Sarah and the cook both had 
their troubles ; Sarah’s mother was paralyzed, and 
the cook was a widow, with three little children in 
an institution. None of the other neighbors 
seemed particularly interesting, and as to friends 
— well, she hadn’t any to speak of. 

There was a short pause after Mrs. Foster had 
delivered her reproof, and then Flora remarked, 
glancing at the clock : — 

It’s most time to start ; I guess I’d better go 
upstairs for my things. We’re going to the thea- 
tre this evening,” she added by way of explana- 
tion to Dollie; “I coaxed Uncle Frank until he 
promised to take us — wasn’t it good of him? ” 
Yes,” said Dollie in a low voice, without lift- 
ing her eyes from her plate. 

Mr. Foster laid down his fork; he looked very 
uncomfortable. 

Kate,” he said, addressing his wife, rather 
nervously, as Flora left the room, humming an 


i6 


ONLY DOLLIE 


air from ‘ Rob Roy ’ don^t you think we might 
take Dollie with us this evening? She hasn’t 
had a treat in a long time.” 

Mrs. Foster’s face darkened. It was not a 
pretty face at the best of times, and when she was 
angry it was positively ugly. 

“What nonsense, Frank,” she began crossly; 
“don’t you know it’s Sarah’s night out? Who 
do you expect is to sit up with the children? Of 
course if you prefer taking Dollie, I can stay at 
home.” 

“ No — oh, no, my dear, I never thought of such 
a thing. I didn’t know it was Sarah’s evening to 
go out, and it seemed as if Dollie had been work- 
ing rather hard lately, but of course I see it cannot 
be arranged.” 

“ If you call playing with Ralph and Tootie, 
and taking them to the park, hard work, I sup- 
pose she has,” returned Mrs. Foster coldly, as 
she rose to follow Flora upstairs. “ You must be 
more considerate, Frank; with only two servants 
it is not possible for the entire family to go out 
at once. I can’t expect the cook to come upstairs 
and sit with the children.” 

When Mrs. Foster had left the room, her hus- 
band and Dollie sat for a few moments in un- 
broken silence. Mr. Foster drummed on the ta- 


DOLLIE 


17 


ble with his fingers, and whistled softly. Dollie 
ate her rice pudding, and tried to choke down the 
lump in her throat. 

'' Never mind, Dollie,” said Mr. Foster at last; 
“ some day you and I will have a spree all by our- 
selves.” '■>: 

Then Dollie looked up and smiled. 

Yes, Uncle Frank,” she said cheerfully. She 
had been hearing about that spree ” for nearly 
two years, but “ some day ” had never come yet. 
Still, it was pleasant to know that Uncle Frank 
thought of her. He was fond of her, she knew; 
it was not his fault that she had so few good 
times. 

Mr. Foster leaned forward, and helped himself 
to a bunch of grapes. 

“ How about lessons, Dollie ? ” he inquired a 
little anxiously. 

“ I study some every evening after the children 
have gone to bed, and sometimes I get up early in 
the morning, and do a little then; but it’s so 
stupid studying all by myself. I wish I could go 
to school.” 

‘‘ Go to school ! Well, so you shall before long, 
perhaps after Christmas. Just now, your aunt 
— that is, I should say, my wife — doesn’t seem 
to think she can spare you very well. You see, I 


i8 


ONLY DOLLIE 


have met with some serious losses during the 
past year, and I don’t feel that I can afford to 
keep a nurse just now. You are a great help with 
the children, and I am sure it must make you very 
happy to feel that you are of so much use to us all. 
After Christmas I will really have a serious talk 
with Mrs. Foster, and we will see whaf can be 
done. I’m afraid I couldn’t afford to send you to 
school with Flora — her father pays all her ex- 
penses, you know — but you wouldn’t mind going 
to a public school just for a little while, would 
you ? ” 

“ I wouldn’t mind going to any school in the 
world if I could learn something,” said Dollie, 
eagerly. “ I can’t bear to think of growing up 
ignorant. Aunt Gertrude would feel so sorry if 
she knew I wasn’t getting any education.” 

Dollie’s lip quivered, and a troubled expression 
crept over Mr. Foster’s face. 

“Yes, yes, to be sure,” he said, hurriedly; 
“ you shall have all the education you want, if you 
only wait patiently. But I must go, I hear the 
others coming down. Give me a kiss, and be a 
good girl, and don’t worry about things. I prom- 
ise you, everything shall come right in time.” 

Dollie returned her uncle’s kiss, but her face 
did not look very bright or hopeful as she fol- 


DOLLIE 


19 


/owed him out into the hall, where Mrs. Foster 
and Flora were already waiting. 

Good-night, Dollie, Fm sorry you’re not com- 
ing with us, but if you like you may read that 
new book I brought home from the library, it’s 
very exciting, and you’ll find it on my table,” said 
Flora, with a smiling glance over her shoulder 
at the little figure waiting in the hall. 

“ Be sure you listen for the children, and don’t 
go up to your own room till we come home,” 
were Mrs. Foster’s parting words, as she closed 
the front door. 

Dollie stood quite still when the door had 
closed behind the others. She did not cry, but 
she drew two or three quick, sharp breaths that 
were almost sobs, and winked hard to keep back 
the scalding tears, which seemed very anxious 
to fall just then. She did not often cry; she had 
qn idea that it was babyish, and a big girl of 
twelve had no right to be a baby. But there were 
times when the injustice of things was very hard 
to bear, and when she asked herself bitterly why 
it was that some people had all the fun, and oth- 
ers all the hard work in the world. Flora was 
not quite a year older than herself, and she did 
not believe Flora had ever done anything in her 
life that she did not want to do. 


20 


ONLY DOLLIE 


“ Gone off, and left you alone, have they? Well 
I wouldn’t fret about it if I was you. Come and 
help me with my dishes, like a good girl. It’s 
getting late, and I want to go and see my mother 
to-night.” 

Sarah’s voice sounded kind and sympathetic, 
and Dollie turned with a start to meet an expres- 
sion of genuine regret on the good-natured Irish 
girl’s face. Her own face flushed a little; she 
was a proud child, and it is never particularly 
pleasant to be pitied. 

“ I wasn’t fretting,” she said, a trifle defiantly ; 
“ I didn’t want to go with them. I’ll help you 
with the dishes, but you must leave the pantry 
door open, so I can hear the children if they 
cry.” 

“ Have you ever been to a theatre yourself? ” 
Sarah inquired, by way of making herself agree- 
able, as they both fell to work on the dinner dishe^ 
Yes, a few times, I used to go when I was a 
little girl, but that was long ago, before Aunt 
Gertrude died.” 

“ Aunt Gertrude ; she was Mr. Foster’s first 
wife, wasn’t she? ” 

“ Yes.” 

“ And she was your own aunt, I suppose. Mr. 
Foster ain’t your own uncle, is he? ” 



Dolme heei'S Sarah with the dishes 


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DOLLIE 


21 


Dollie hesitated slightly, and the sensitiv^j color 
deepened in her cheeks; but whatever her faults, 
she was a very truthful child. 

“ I don’t think they were either of them really 
my relations,” she said slowly. “ You see, my 
father and mother both died when I was a baby, 
and Uncle Frank and Aunt Gertrude — who had 
no children of their own — adopted me.” 

'' Well, now, you don’t say so ! I always did 
think there was something queer about it. It 
wasn’t natural for any folks to treat their own 
flesh and blood the way the Fosters treat you. But 
the first Mrs. Foster, she was fond of you, wasn’t 
she?” 

She was the dearest, kindest person in the 
world, and we loved each other — oh, how we did 
love each other ! ” 

“ There, now, don’t cry ! it’s a shame, that’s 
what it is, and I always said so. It ain’t fair the 
way you’re treated. Why, they wouldn’t find a 
nurse girl willing to do one-half what you do, 
without ever getting a word of thanks for it, and 
it’s my opinion Mrs. Foster knows it, too.” 

“ While Aunt Gertrude lived, it was very dif- 
ferent,” said Dollie, choking back, and finding a 
certain comfort in speaking of those old happy 
times, even to rough, good-natured Sarah. “ I 


22 


ONLY DOLLIE 


think Uncle Frank had more money then, and I 
had a nurse, and toys, and oh, such pretty dresses. 
Aunt Gertrude had a cough and had to stay in a 
warm climate, so we travelled a good deal. We 
were in Europe for two years, and I went to 
school one winter in Nice, and learned French, 
and had music lessons. Oh, we were all so happy 
until Aunt Gertrude died ! ” 

And that was how long ago ? Sarah in- 
quired, sympathetically. 

“ Nearly tliree years. It was in December, just 
before Christmas, and we were in Florence. She 
had been getting weaker all summer, and she had 
to lie on the sofa most of the time. Then she 
caught cold one day when she was driving with 
Uncle Frank, and it began to rain before she got 
home, and after that she was always in bed, and 
they wouldn’t let me see her. And then one morn- 
ing, Bridget — that was my nurse — told me my 
Aunt Gertrude was dead.” 

Dollie’s voice broke suddenly, and was lost in 
a big sob. 

“ There, there, never mind about that now,” 
said Sarah, soothingly. “ Tell me about this Mrs. 
Foster; how did you first come to meet her? ” 

‘‘ She was at the same hotel with us in Flor- 
ence. She was Mrs. Wilson then; her husband, 


DOLLIE 


23 


Mr. Wilson, had died of consumption only a 
while before Aunt Gertrude. Tootie was a baby, 
and Ralph was only just beginning to talk. 
Bridget knew their nurse, and I used to play with 
them sometimes in the hotel gardens. Mrs. Wilson 
was very kind when Aunt Gertrude died, and we 
afterward went to Rome, and the Wilsons were 
in the same hotel there too. Then Uncle Frank 
had typhoid fever, and Mrs. Wilson was very 
good to us. She even helped to nurse Uncle 
Frank herself, and she let Ralph and Tootie’s 
nurse take care of me when Bridget was busy. 
When Uncle Frank got better, we all came back 
to America on the same steamer, and then in the 
summer Uncle Frank and Mrs. Wilson were 
married.” 

“ Well, I declare ! less than a year of his first 
wife's death,” exclaimed Sarah, indignantly. 
“It's just what one might expect of him though. 
And was this Mrs. Foster kind to you at first? ” 

“ When she was Mrs. Wilson she was very 
kind, but I didn’t like her very much even then, 
and I don’t think Bridget did either. After she 
married Uncle Frank, and we came here to live, 
everything was different. She sent Bridget 
away ; she said I was too big for a nurse. I went 
to school for the first year, and Ralph and Tootie 


24 


ONLY DOLLIE 


had a PYench nurse, but then Uncle Frank lost 
some money, and we had to send away most of the 
servants, and I had to stay at home to help with 
the children.’' 

And you don’t know anything about your 
own folks, I suppose ? ” 

“ Oh, no, I don’t think I have any. My father 
and mother both died of yellow fever in the south, 
before I was six months old, and when Aunt Ger- 
trude heard about it, and that there wasn’t any- 
body to take care of me, she coaxed Uncle Frank 
to let her adopt me, because she was very fond 
of children, and hadn’t any of her own.” 

“ Died of yellow fever, did they ? ” repeated 
Sarah, reflectively. “ Well, I ’ve heard tell as 
whole families is carried off by it down in them 
hot parts. I suppose they was poor folks, and 
there wasn’t nobody to look after you. Don’t 
you even know what your right name is ? ” 

Dollie shook her head. 

“ Everyone always used to call me Dorothy 
Foster, but Mrs. Foster says that’s not my name, 
and that I mustn’t be called by it. I asked Uncle 
Frank once, but he wouldn’t tell me; he said he 
didn’t want to talk about it.” 

Well, it’s a queer story, anyway,” remarked 
Sarah, as she set her last clean plate back in its 


DOLLIE 


25 


place. Fm inclined to think it was a bad day for 
you when the first Mrs. Foster died. There ain’t 
anything you can do about it as I can see, but just 
have patience, and maybe things’ll be better some 
day. And now I am through and I must be off, if 
I want to see my mother to-night.” 

It was after eleven o’clock when the Fosters 
and their niece returned from the theatre. Mrs. 
Foster and Flora went upstairs at once, leaving 
Mr. Foster to smoke his cigar in the dining-room. 

“ It’s been such a lovely evening,” remarked 
Flora, enthusiastically, following her aunt to her 
room. “ That was such a beautiful play, and it 
was so good of you and Uncle Frank to take me. 
I hardly ever go to the theatre at home, you know; 
nothing worth seeing ever comes to Rochester. I 
wonder what poor Dollie has been doing all the 
evening. I hope she found that book I told her 
about.” 

“ I told her to stay where she could hear the 
children if they woke,” said Mrs. Foster. ‘‘ Oh, 
there she is fast asleep on my sofa, I declare. A 
nice way to listen to the children, I must say. 
Dollie, Dollie, do you hear me? Get up this in- 
stant.” 

With a start, Dollie opened her eyes and lifted 
her head. For the moment she could not re- 


26 


ONLY DOLLIE 


member where she was, and she rubbed her sleepy 
^yes in bewilderment. But the sight of Mrs. Fos- 
ter’s stern, disapproving face speedily brought 
back a recollection of time and place, and she 
hastily scrambled to her feet, and picked up ‘‘ The 
History of England,” which had slipped from 
her lap onto the floor. 

“ I should like to know how long you have 
been asleep,” observed Mrs. Foster in a rather 
disagreeable tone. 

“ I don’t know,” faltered Dollie, still feeling 
dizzy and confused. “ First I helped Sarah with 
the dishes, and then I came up here and studied 
my history. And then — I don’t know how it was, 
but my eyes kept shutting, and I felt so tired, and 
then you called me.” 

“ Poor little thing,” said Flora, good-naturedly. 
“ Don’t scold her. Aunt Kate ; Pm sure she’s been 
on her feet all day, it’s no wonder she’s tired.” 

“ Well, go to bed, both 'of you, and see that 
this doesn’t happen again, Dollie. Good night. 
Flora dear; don’t forget to bathe your eyes well 
in warm water, they look red.” 

Come into my room while I undress,” whis- 
pered Flora, as the two little girls went upstairs 
together ; ‘‘ I’ll tell you all about the lovely eve- 
ning I’ve had.” 


DOLLIE 


27 


Dollie complied very willingly. She was quite 
wide awake by this time, and she felt grateful to 
Flora for having put in a good word for her. 

“ ril brush your hair for you if you like,’' she 
suggested rather timidly. She wanted to show 
Flora that she was not unappreciative of kindness. 

Oh, thank you, that will be lovely ; I never 
can do it nicely myself. When I was at home my 
older sister always did it for me, but here I have 
no one to help me dress.” 

“ I suppose you are very homesick sometimes,” 
said Dollie sympathetically. ‘‘ If I had a father 
and mother, and brothers and sisters, I don’t think 
I could ever bear to go away and leave them.” 

“ Oh, yes, you could, especially if you lived in 
a stupid town like Rochester, and got the chance 
to come to New^ York for a whole winter. I like 
school ever so much, and Uncle Frank and Aunt 
Kate are very kind. But I want to tell you about 
this evening. Who do you think had the seats 
right in front of us ? ” 

'' I don’t know. I’m sure.” 

Why the Norrises — the people in Thirty-six, 
you know. Of course Aunt Kate introduced me, 
and we talked together between the acts. The 
girls are. very nice. Amy, the little one, is such 
fun. She’s only eleven, but very bright for her 


28 


ONLY DOLLIE 


age, and she said such droll things about the peo- 
ple in the play, and made us all laugh. Maud is 
thirteen, and very pretty. They were so pleas- 
ant, and they asked me to come over and see 
them to-morrow afternoon. The boy was with 
them, too, and, by the way, he isn't their brother, 
but a cousin, who lives with them. His name is 
Dick Marston, and he's a Sophomore at Colum- 
bia. He’s awfully handsome, and so pleasant; 
not a bit stuck up or anything, like some college 
boys. Alice Hastings has a brother in Columbia, 
and he always looks so bored whenever he has to 
talk to us younger girls, but this young Mr. Mars- 
ton is ever so nice; he really took quite a good 
deal of notice of me.” 

Flora chattered on, describing the play, the 
ride home in the Electric Car, and the conversa- 
tion she had had with the Norrises and their 
cousin. They had all come home together in the 
same car, it appeared, and had already arrived at 
that stage of intimacy which permitted their ad- 
dressing each other by their Christian names. 
Dollie listened with deep interest. Flora had al- 
ready been an inmate of the house for more than a 
month, but this was the first time she had ever 
honored Dollie with any special marks of atten- 
tion, and the poor little drudge was more than 


DOLLIE 


29 


gratified by this condescension on the part of Mrs. 
Foster’s pretty niece. She had admired Flora 
very much from the first. She admired her many 
pretty dresses, and her hair that curled naturally. 
Still, oddly enough, she had never envied Flora, as 
she envied the Norris girls. 

“ They have a father and a mother and a beau- 
tiful home,” she would say to herself. “ Flora’s 
father and mother let her go away for a whole 
winter ; Fm sure they can’t love her the way that 
mother in number Thirty-six loves her children.” 

It was nearly twelve o’clock before the two 
girls at last bade each other good-night, and Dol- 
lie stole softly to her own tiny hall bed room, and 
began to undress. 

“ It was almost as good as going to the play 
myself, to hear all about it,” were her parting 
words to Flora, and Flora had smiled rather pat- 
ronizingly, and said to herself, as she put out 
her gas : — 

“ She’s rather a nice little thing, after all, and 
it’s very pleasant to have somebody to tell things 
to. She isn’t exactly like a servant either, though 
Aunt Kate does make her take care of the chil- 
dren.” 


CHAPTER II 


dollie's adventure 

T here certainly is a great difference in 
days. Some days begin well, and every- 
thing continues to go well all through. 
Others begin badly, and then nothing goes 
smoothly, and things grow worse instead of better 
as the day goes on. The day following the Fos- 
ter’s first meeting with their opposite neighbors 
was one of the latter kind, at least to Dollie. In 
the first place, she over-slept herself, a circum- 
stance regarded as very little short of a crime by 
Mrs. Foster. Sarah called her as usual at half 
past six, but the November morning was very 
dark, and being unaccustomed to such late hours 
as those she had been indulging in on the pre- 
vious night, she felt more than usually sleepy. She 
thought she would just turn over and lie still for 
five minutes. She was sure that she could get up 
in five minutes, and if she hurried in her dressing, 
it would not make any difference. She did turn 
over, and of course that was the very last thing 
30 


DOLLmS ADVENTURE 


31 


she knew until she was roused by the sound of 
Mrs. Foster’s angry voice, calling from the foot 
of the stairs : — 

“ Dollie, Dollie, what do you mean by being 
so late? It’s half past seven, and Ralph is run- 
ning around the nursery in his night gown, catch- 
ing his death of cold.” 

Dollie sprang out of bed, feeling horribly 
guilty and ashamed, and when she came running 
down stairs, fifteen minutes later, she found Mrs. 
Foster dressing Tootie in the nursery, and re- 
ceived a lecture, which lasted until breakfast time. 

Flora came down to breakfast with a headache ; 
late hours did not agree with her any better than 
with Dollie, and she was feeling decidedly cross. 
Her aunt advised her to stay in the house and 
rest, as she was going to a party that evening, 
but Flora, being in an obstinate mood, refused 
to listen to any such proposal, and started imme- 
diately after breakfast for the gymnasium, where 
she had engaged to meet a party of school friends. 

Ralph had not by any means forgotten Dollie’s 
promise that he and Tootie should have a ride in 
one of the goat carriages in the park, and had, 
indeed, begun on the subject the moment Dollie 
appeared in the nursery that morning. Mrs. Fos- 
ter made some slight objections at first, but when 


32 


ONLY DOLLIE 


Ralph carefully explained that Dollie intended 
paying for the treat “ out of her very own two 
dollars/’ she said nothing more and at a little af- 
ter ten, the party started on their expedition. 

It was a dull, cloudy morning, with a keen east 
wind, and a feeling of coming rain in the air. 
Dollie was a little doubtful about venturing so 
far from home, but at her very first suggestion 
that it might be better to postpone the treat till 
another day, Tootie began to cry, and Ralph 
looked so rebellious, that she hastened to explain 
that she “ was only in fun.” They reached their 
destination, 'without adventure of any kind, and 
found an empty goat carriage, with a pleasant- 
faced boy driver, ready to accommodate them. 
Dollie saw her two little charges lifted into the 
small carriage, and driven away, waving radiant 
farewells to her, and then she sat down on a 
bench to await their return. 

It was cold sitting out of doors on that damp, 
chilly morning, and Dollie was thankful when 
she saw the little cavalcade returning, but alas for 
her hopes! 

“We want to go round again,” announced 
Ralph’s shrill little voice, before the carriage had 
even stopped. “ I drived all by myself, and I 
holded Tootie tight, didn’t I Tootie?” 


DOLLmS ADVENTURE 


33 


Es/' said Tootie; “ Tootie will have more 
wide.” 

Dollie’s heart sank, as she thought of her slen- 
der store of money, but she dared not refuse, well 
knowing that Ralph could be alarming when con- 
tradicted, and the party started on a second trip. 
This time Dollie walked beside the driver, to keep 
herself warm. 

A third and a fourth trip were demanded by the 
inexorable Ralph, and it was not until a pretty 
large hole had been made in Dollie’s two dollars, 
that he and Tootie were at last persuaded that 
“ they had rides enough ” for one morning, and 
consented to go home to luncheon. 

But Dollie’s troubles were not by any means 
over. They had not proceeded more than a dozen 
yards on their homeward way when big, heavy 
drops of rain began to fall, and by the time they 
reached the entrance of the park, it had settled into 
a steady down-pour. Dollie hurried her charges 
along as fast as she could, but in a very few min- 
utes Tootie began to cry, and demanded to be car- 
ried. Dollie was willing enough to comply with 
this request, even though it somewhat impeded her 
own progress, for Tootie was subject to croupy 
coughs, which greatly alarmed her mother, and 
the thought of the little wet feet was not a cheer- 


34 


ONLY DOLLIE 


ful one. She had forgotten to take an umbrella, 
and none of them had rubbers. 

It was a very wet, forlorn little party, which 
reached home in a decidedly breathless condition, 
and were met on the threshold by Mrs. Foster, in 
a perfect storm of indignation. 

How could you be so stupid and careless, 
Dollie ? A child of eight might have seen for the 
past two hours that it was going to rain. I called 
after you to be sure not to take the children to the 
park such a damp morning, but you never even 
answered me.” 

I didn’t hear you,” said Dollie, meekly. 

Well, I should think your own common, sense 
might have told you even if you didn’t hear me. 

- suppose both the children are in for an at- 
tacif of croup, and there’ll be no one to thank for 
it but you. Run right up stairs, Ralph, and get 
those wet clothes off, this minute. Give Tootie 
to me; "^^Jl attend to her.” 

Dollie went with the children to the nursery, 
and assisted in the removal of their wet clothes. 
Mrs. Foster bustled about, scolding, and rubbing 
Ralph’s cold feet with a towel, but it never even 
occurred to her to advise Dollie to take off her 
own shoes and stockings, although her feet were 
every bit as wet as Ralph’s. 


DOLLIE^S ADVENTURE 


35 


Flora, who had also omitted to carry an um- 
brella, came home just before luncheon, very wet, 
and crosser than ever; she was sure she had 
spoiled her new hat. Mrs. Foster scolded her, 
too, though not as she had scolded Dollie, and 
the whole party sat down to lunch, in very low 
spirits indeed. 

After lunch Dollie took the children to the 
nursery, and after establishing them comfortably 
— Ralph with his blocks, and Tootie with a picture 
book — she sat down by the window with her Eng- 
lish History, prepared to finish the reign of Henry 
the Eighth, over which she had fallen asleep the 
evening before. She heard the front door shut, 
and looking up from her book, she saw Flora run- 
ning across the street in the rain, and tripping up 
the steps of Number Thirty-six. She watched un- 
til she saw the door open, and Flora disappear 
within “ the enchanted Palace,’’ and then she 
sighed, a very wistful, tired little sigh. After 
that, though she honestly tried to fix her thoughts 
on the troubles of poor Anne Boleyn, she found 
her mind very frequently wandering to the in- 
mates of the opposite house, and she cast more 
than one wistful glance at those ever-interesting 
front windows. No faces appeared, as they some- 
times did, though she fancied she caught glimpses 


36 


ONLY DOLLIE 


of figures flitting about in the third story front, 
which she knew was the room occupied by the two 
little girls. 

The afternoon wore away, and nothing hap- 
pened to disturb the general harmony, except that 
Ralph and Too tie had several lively quarrels, as 
they invariably did on rainy days, and Dollie was 
obliged to put away her book, to play “ tea party,” 
and tell Ralph about “ Little Red Riding-Hood,” 
a story of which he never tired. At half past four 
Mrs. Foster came into the nursery, to try a new 
dress on Tootie, and Dollie lighted the gas. Mrs. 
Foster was an industrious woman, and she never 
tired of making pretty clothes for Ralph and 
Tootie. Even Flora came in for a share of her 
attentions, but Dollie was an interloper, who — 
in Mrs. Foster’s opinion — had no right to be com 
sidered a member of the family. 

Tootie’s dress had just been pronounced quite 
satisfactory, and that vain little person was in the 
act of admiring herself in the glass, when Flora 
— who had come home a few minutes before — 
suddenly burst into the nursery, with a face of 
dismay. 

“ Oh, Aunt Kate,” she exclaimed, almost cry- 
ing in her distress and vexation, “ the very most 
provoking thing has happened ; I quite forgot to 


DOLLIE’S ADVENTURE 


37 


buy a new pair of gloves, and I haven’t a single 
decent pair to wear to-night.” 

‘'Good gracious,” ejaculated Mrs. Foster; “of 
all the careless, thoughtless girls, if you are not 
the most trying ! Didn’t I remind you over and . 
over again not to forget those gloves ? Well, it’s 
too late to do anything about it now : you’ll have 
to wear an old pair, that’s all about it.” 

“ But I can’t, I tell you I can’t,” persisted Flora. 

“ I’ve only got one pair, and the finger of one is 
almost out, and the other is all stained with lem- 
onade I got spilled on it at the Crosby’s. Oh, 
dear ! oh, dear ! what shall I do ? ” 

“ I’m sure I don’t know,” said Mrs. Foster, 
crossly. “ You surely can’t expect me, with my 
cold, to go all the way down town in this pouring 
rain. I can’t let you go out alone so late ; I prom- 
ised your mother that you should always be in the 
house before dark. I really don’t see myself what 
is to be done.’^ 

“ Couldn’t one of the servants go ? ” suggested 
Flora. 

“ Of course not ; they both have their work to 
attend to at this hour.” 

“ Then I shall have to stay at home from the 
party,” said Flora, beginning to cry. “ Oh dear ! 
it’s too bad — it’s too bad ! ” 


38 


ONLY DOLLIE 


“ It’s all your own fault,” said Mrs. Foster, 
but she looked very sorry, notwithstanding. The 
fact was, she did not want Flora to stay at home. 
The party was given by one of Flora’s school 
mates, who “ moved in the best society,” and to 
“ move in the best society ” was Mrs. Foster’s 
own highest ambition. So far this ambition had 
not seemed likely to be gratified, but with a pretty 
niece a member of the most select school in the 
city, who knew what might not be accomplished 
in time? There was a moment’s uncomfortable 
silence; Flora took out her pocket handkerchief; 
Mrs. Foster glanced uneasily at Dollie. 

Dollie had listened to the conversation with a 
good deal of sympathy. She had not forgotten 
Flora’s kindness of the night before, and now, 
meeting Mrs. Foster’s troubled glance, she took 
courage to make a suggestion. 

“ Couldn’t I go for the gloves ? ” she inquired, 
a little doubtfully. “ It wouldn’t take long if I 
went down and back in a car, and I’m not afraid 
of being out after dark.” 

Mrs. Foster’s face brightened; she glanced at 
the clock. 

“ Well, suppose you do,” she said, not without 
some hesitation. “ It’s only a quarter to five, and 
if you hurry you can easily be back before six. I 


DOLLIE’S ADVENTURE 


39 


don't quite approve of letting you out so late, but 
I don’t see how it can be helped this time. Get 
your things on as quickly as you can, and I’ll 
have the money ready for you by the time you 
come down.’’ 

“ I declare, Dollie, you are a perfect angel,” ex- 
claimed Flora, rapturously, following Dollie up- 
stairs, and looking decidedly relieved. I’ll do 
something for you to make up for this some time, 
see if I don’t.” 

“ I don’t want you to,” said Dollie, smiling. 

I’m so glad to be able to do it for you ; you’d 
be so disappointed if you had to stay at home from 
the party.” 

“ Yes, of course, I should hate it, but it really 
was my own fault about the gloves ; Aunt Kate re- 
minded me of them half a dozen times.” 

“ I used to go to parties once, when Aunt Ger- 
trude was alive,” remarked Dollie, pulling on her 
rubbers as she spoke, for Flora had followed her 
to her room. “ I was only a little girl, but I used 
to have such fun. I suppose you love them, too.” 

“ Yes, generally, but it’s a bore if you don’t 
get plenty of partners. I generally have all I 
want, but I can’t help feeling sorry for the ' wall 
flowers.’ ” 

Dollie had not the remotest idea what wall 


40 


ONLY DOLLIE 


flowers ” were, but she did not wish to display her 
ignorance, so she let the subject drop, and asked 
another question instead. 

“ Did you have a nice time this afternon ? ” 

“ Oh, perfectly lovely ! I like the Norris girls 
so much, and Maud and I are going to be great 
friends. Their cousin, Dick Marston, came in 
before I left, and I think he’s perfectly charm- 
ing. We had such fun, and I saw Mrs. Norris, 
too. She was so sweet and kind, and the girls 
seemed so devoted to her. I think they must be 
a most devoted family. Are you all ready now? 
Don’t forget, light grays, with four buttons, size 
five and a quarter. You know where we trade, I 
guess, but Aunt Kate will tell you about that. Do 
be just as quick as you can, won’t you, dear? 
I’m so afraid the store may close before you get 
there, on account of its being Saturday afternoon. 
I really am very grateful to you.” 

The heavy rain still continued, and the wind 
had risen almost to a gale. Dollie found consid- 
erable difficulty in preventing her umbrella from 
turning inside out, as she hurried down the street 
to the car. Her throat felt sore and dry, and un- 
comfortable little chills crept up and down her 
back. She knew the symptoms well enough ; they 
meant that she had caught cold from keeping her 


DOLLIE^S ADVENTURE 


41 


wet shoes on so long, and that she would prob- 
ably have a return of the cough that had kept her 
awake so many nights last winter; but this fact 
did not trouble her very much. She was so glad 
to be able to do Flora a kindness. It was very 
pleasant to be thanked, and to have someone look 
and speak as Flora had done; her poor, starved 
little heart went out to this other girl, who did not 
have to take care of children, and who was not 
allowed to be out alone after dark. 

She reached the corner, without mishap, 
boarded an electric car, and was soon in the very 
heart of the great city. 

Late as it was, the big popular store was still 
crowded with customers, and it was some time be- 
fore Dollie succeeded in getting anyone to wait 
on her. She was too shy to boldly push her way 
up to the glove counter, and make her wants 
known, but stood patiently waiting her turn, till 
a good-natured sales-woman noticed her, and 
asked her what she would like. Then it was some 
time longer before the package was done, and the 
right change returned, so that by the time Dollie 
left the store, it was already quite dark, and all 
the street lamps were lighted. 

The rush up town had by this time begun, and 
all the cars were crowded. Dollie hailed two, 


42 


ONLY DOLLIE 


which went whizzing by, without apparently hav- 
ing noticed her signal. The third stopped just 
long enough for her to step onto the front plat- 
form, where she was obliged to stand all the 
way up town, the inside being too packed to allow 
of another passenger squeezing through the door. 
She reached her own corner in safety, however, 
and putting up her umbrella again, started to walk 
the long block, which still separated her from the 
Foster’s home. She had not proceeded far when 
she became conscious of footsteps walking just 
behind her, and she involuntarily quickened her 
own pace, feeling vaguely uncomfortable, for it 
was getting very late, and the quiet street was 
apparently quite deserted. 

“ Please, Miss, will you give me five cents to 
buy a loaf of bread ? ” 

At the sound of the shrill, whining voice, close 
behind her, Dollie turned her head. What she 
saw was a ragged, dirty boy, of most unprepos- 
sessing appearance. He seemed to be about her 
own age, or possibly a year or two older. 

“ I’m very sorry, I haven’t any money to give 
you,” she said politely, and attempted to hurry on, 
but the boy was at her side in an instant. 

I’m very hungry. Miss, and my mother’s sick ; 
please give me five cents.” 


DOLimS ADVENTURE 


43 


Dollie’s tender heart was touched. If she had 
had the money she would undoubtedly have given 
him what he wanted, but well did she know that 
Mrs. Foster would demand a strict account of 
every cent of change, and Mrs. Foster did not 
approve of street beggars. Her own purse, con- 
taining the remains of her precious two dollars, 
was in her drawer at home. 

“ Fm very sorry,” she said again, but I really 
haven’t got the money.” 

The boy gave one quick glance up and down the 
empty street; no one was apparently in sight. 
Then, with a swift bound, he placed himself di- 
rectly in Dollie’s path. 

“ Come now,” he said, assuming a different 
tone, “ don’t you tell me no lies. Let’s have a 
look at your pockets.” And before Dollie could 
utter a word of protest, or even fully realize what 
was happening to her, he had thrust a dirty hand 
into the pocket of her waterproof, and with- 
drawn it again, eagerly clutching something, 
not the purse, that was safe in the pocket of 
her dress, but the package containing Flora’s 
new gloves. 

With a laugh that sounded to Dollie almost 
fiendish, the boy waved the parcel triumphantly 
in h^r face. 


44 


ONLY DOLLIE 


“ Give me some money, and Til give it back; 
give me none, and you won’t get it.” 

“ Oh, give it to me, give it to me,” cried poor 
Dollie, clasping her hands imploringly, while at 
the same instant the wind turned her umbrella in- 
side out with a crash. 

The boy laughed again. 

“ Give me some money,” he said. 

Mechanically Dollie began fumbling for her 
dress pocket, anything, even Mrs. Foster’s wrath, 
was better than that Flora’s gloves should be 
lost. 

She was in the very act of drawing her purse 
from her pocket, when the front door of the 
house before which they were standing opened 
and shut, and a young man came out, and paused 
for a moment on the steps to open his umbrella. 
The boy took a quick step backward — Dollie’s 
heart gave a great throb of relief. 

“ Oh, if you please,” she gasped, appealing to 
the stranger, whose face she had not even seen, 
“ make him give me back my parcel. He stole it 
from me, and he won’t give it back. Oh, please, 
please make him.” 

The young man seemed to grasp the situation 
at a glance, and, with an exclamation of disgust, 
he sprang down the steps, and in another moment 





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DOLLIE’S ADVENTURE 


45 


was dashing up the street at full speed, in pursuit 
of the boy, who had taken to his heels at the very 
first approach of danger. 

The boy ran fast, but his pursuer ran faster, 
and in a very few minutes,* Dollie — who had been 
leaning against a lamp-post, trembling from head 
to foot, and with the rain beating down upon her 
— saw her defender returning, flushed, breathless, 
but triumphant, and bearing — oh, joy! — her pre- 
cious parcel in his hand. 

“ Here you are, all safe,” he said, pleasantly, 
handing her the package as she spoke. “ It was a 
shame that that little scamp gave you such a 
fright.” 

‘‘ Oh, thank you — thank you, so much,” falt- 
ered Dollie, still trembling, but carefully brushing 
the rain drops off the paper ere returning the par- 
cel to her pocket. “ If it had been lost I don’t 
know what I should have done.” 

Is it so very precious ? ” the young man asked, 
looking down at the little figure, with a smile. 
“ But see here,” he added, in a different tone, 
“ you mustn’t stand out here in this pouring rain ; 
your umbrella’s broken.” 

“ I know it is,” said Dollie; I can’t mend it 
either.” 

That’s too bad ; have you far to go ? ” 


46 


ONLY DOLLIE 


'' Not very, I live on this block, in Number 
Thirty-seven/' 

Number Thirty-seven,” repeated the young 
man. “ Ah ! now I remember where I have seen 
you before. I live in number Thirty-six myself. 
Suppose you come under my umbrella. See, it’s 
plenty large enough to cover us both.” 

“ Oh, thank you, sir,” said Dollie for the sec- 
ond time, and the words were accompanied by 
such a grateful glance that Dick Marston scarcely 
knew whether to be amused or sorry. 

“ And now suppose you tell me your name,” 
said the young man, as he and Dollie walked on, 
side by side. “ I met a very pretty little girl who 
lives in your bourse; her name is Rogers; is she 
your sister ? ” 

Oh, no ; she is Mrs. Foster’s niece.” 

‘‘Mrs. Foster’s niece, is she? And who are 
you, if one may be allowed to ask?” 

“ I’m — oh. I’m just Dollie.” 

“ Dollie what? ” 

Dollie hesitated. She would have said Fos- 
ter, but remembering a reproof she had received 
not long ago from the lady of that name, she 
changed her mind, and said, “ I don’t know.” 

Dick Marston looked more than a little sur- 


DOLLIE^S ADVENTURE 


47 


prised, but being a very kind-hearted young fel- 
low, and seeing from the child’s flushed cheeks 
and down cast eyes, that the subject was evi- 
dently a painful one, he checked his own curiosity, 
and hastened to change it by saying kindly : — 

It’s rather late for you to be out by yourself, 
isn’t it? Have you been shopping?” 

“ Yes, I went down town for a pair of gloves 
for Flora. They were in that parcel the boy took ; 
I was so afraid they would be lost or spoiled.” 

And what would have happened if they had 
been ? ” the young man inquired, rather curiously. 

“ Oh, Flora would have had to stay at home 
from the party to-night, and she would have been 
so disappointed, and Mrs. Foster would have 
thought it was all my fault.” 

“ Not if you had explained to her that the par- 
cel was stolen.” 

She would think I ought to have been more 
careful. I suppose I really ought to have put the 
gloves in my dress pocket, but I never thought 
of any one stealing them.” 

“ I don’t think I should like Mrs. Foster very 
much,” observed Dick, with characteristic frank- 
ness. “ I saw her at the theatre last night. Have 
you always lived with her ? ” 


48 


ONLY DOLLIE 


'' Yes, always.” 

“ Tve seen you out on the sidewalk with two 
jolly-looking little kids; are they her children?” 

Yes, they are Ralph and Tootie; I take them 
out every day.” 

“ Well, here we are at Thirty-seven, and not 
quite drowned either, although it seems to be do- 
ing its best to rain hard enough to drown people. 
Good night.” 

“ Good night, and, oh, thank you so very, very 
much.” 

Dollie ventured to hold out her hand, and her 
companion took it and shook it heartily, while he 
looked down with kindly laughing eyes, into the 
little earnest, upturned face. 

“Nonsense,” he said, good-naturedly; “there 
isn’t anything to thank me about. I am glad I 
happened to be on hand to rescue Miss Flora’s 
gloves, that’s all. Tell Mrs. Foster she mustn’t let 
you go out alone so late again; it isn’t very safe. 
You must come over and see my little cousins; 
they’re jolly girls, you’d like them Fm sure. And 
some day perhaps you’ll tell me how it happens 
that you don’t know your own name.” 

“ My real name is Dorothy,” said Dollie, blush- 
ing, “ but everyone calls me Dollie.” 


DOLLIE'S ADVENTURE 


49 


Dorothy, that’s a pretty name ; I had a little 
sister Dorothy once. Now run in out of the rain, 
and don’t forget to tell Mrs. Foster what I said 
about not letting you go out so late all by your- 
self.” 


CHAPTER III 


THE PEOPLE IN NUMBER THIRTY-SIX 

D ick MARSTON crossed the street and 
mounted the steps of number Thirty-six, 
but before he put his latch key into the 
door he waited until he had seen the little figure 
on the front steps opposite admitted into the 
house. 

“ Poor little thing,” he said, as he hung up his 
wet overcoat, and put his dripping umbrella in the 
rack ; “ it’s easy to see she has a rough time of it. 
I must tell Aunt Lucy and the girls about her.” 

He ran upstairs, and guided by the sound of 
voices, made his way at once to the family sitting- 
room, where he found his aunt and cousins gath- 
ered round the centre table, the former reading 
aloud, the latter each busy with a piece of fancy 
work. A pleasanter, more homelike little scene 
it would have been difficult to find, and Dick’s face 
brightened instinctively as he entered. Ever 
since he was a small, curly-headed boy those three 
people had been the beings dearest on earth to him. 
50 


THE PEOPLE IN NUMBER THIRTY -SIX 51 

They all looked up on his entrance, and Mrs. Nor- 
ris paused in her reading to inquire: — 

Did you find the Ogdens at home? ” 

“ Yes, and had a very pleasant call. Fm glad 
you made me go, though I did think it was an 
awful bore when you suggested it.” 

Mrs. Norris smiled. 

“ It always pays to do one’s duty,” she said. 
“ You shouldn’t have accepted the Ogden’s invi- 
tation if it was too much trouble to make your 
party call afterward.” 

I know it. Aunt Lucy ; you’re right, as you 
always are, “ returned her nephew, throwing him- 
self lazily into an arm chair by the fire. “ Go on 
with your reading, I like to listen.” 

“ We’ve just finished,” said Maud, the elder of 
the two girls, a pretty, fair-haired little maiden of 
thirteen ; “ mother has been reading to us ever 
since Flora Rogers left, and I’m sure her poor 
throat must be tired. How did you like Flora, by 
the way, Dick ? ” 

“ Oh, well enough ; she’s very good fun. She 
ought to be grateful to me, for I have just been 
the means of rescuing a pair of gloves of hers 
from the clutches of a blood-thirsty villain.” 

‘‘Dick, what in the world do you mean?” 

“ I mean just what I say.” And Dick related 


52 


ONLY DOLLIE 


the history of Dollie’s adventure. All his auditors 
were very much impressed. 

“ My dear boy, I wish you wouldn’t get mixed 
up in those dreadful street rows,” his aunt said 
anxiously. “ I never shall forget the day you 
came home with two black eyes, and the blood 
streaming down your face, and explained that 
two fellows were tormenting a kitten, and you 
saved it. You were only nine then, and the two 
fellows — as we afterwards discovered — were 
twice your size.” 

Well, the fellow this afternoon wasn’t more 
than half my size,” said Dick laughing, “ so you 
needn’t worry on that score this time, auntie. He 
was a coward, too, pure and simple, and promptly 
handed over the property the moment I grabbed 
him. The thing that did vex me, though, was 
that the child should have been sent out alone at 
this hour. Why, she isn’t as big as our Amy.” 

“ She is the little nurse girl,” Maud explained ; 
“ I’ve seen her out with the children almost every 
day. I suppose the Fosters are not very well off, 
and can’t afford to keep a regular nurse.” 

I saw her carrying that little Foster girl home 
in her arms yesterday,” remarked Amy, lifting 
her little dark, earnest face from her work. “ It 
must have made her back ache.” 


THE PEOPLE IN NUMBER THIRTY-SIX 53 

“ Poor little thing,” said Mrs. Norris, sympa- 
thetically. “It’s a shame to allow children of her 
age to fill such positions; there should be a law 
preventing such things.” 

“ I don’t believe she is a nurse girl,” said Dick, 
thoughtfully. “ She didn’t look or speak exactly 
like a servant. I have an idea she is some sort of 
poor relation, or protege of the family. She said 
her name was Dorothy; she doesn’t seem to pos- 
sess any other.” 

“ I’ve thought a good deal about her,” observed 
Amy, folding up her work. I was wishing 
yesterday, when I saw her carrying that heavy 
child, that we could, somehow give her a good 
time.” 

Mrs. Norris and Dick both smiled, and Maud 
said, somewhat reprovingly : — 

“ What funny ideas you do have, Amy. Im- 
agine thinking you would like to give one of the 
neighbors’ servants a good time.” 

Amy’s face flushed. 

“I don’t care,” she said, a little defiantly; 
“ she’s only just a little girl like us, even if she is 
a servant, I don’t think it’s fair, anyway ; servants 
have to do all the work, while we enjoy ourselves, 
and people think it’s queer if they want a little 
fun sometimes.” 


54 


ONLY DOLLIE 


“I’m sure our servants have good times,” 
Maud said. 

“ Yes, because father and mother are good and 
kind, but some servants don’t, and I don’t blame 
them a bit if they’re cross and disagreeable. 
When I went to the Westons’ to lunch last Sat- 
urday, Mrs. Weston spoke so horridly to the 
waitress, and she hadn’t done anything either, 
only asked if she might go out for a little while, to 
see her sister, who was very ill. She looked so 
white and queer, when Mrs. Weston said she 
couldn’t go until she had finished all her work. I’m 
sure she was just boiling inside, the same as I 
was.” 

“ I declare Amy, I do believe you’ll be a regular 
socialist when you grow up,” said Maud, laugh- 
ing. “ You have the queerest ideas of any girl I 
ever knew.” 

“Never mind what people say; they are first 
rate ideas, Amy,” put in Dick, good-humoredly. 
“ Give us a kiss, little woman. I quite agree with 
you in wishing we could give that poor little girl 
opposite a good time; she looks as if she needed 
it. Where are you going in such a hurry ? ” 

“To practice,” said Amy, whose face had 
grown radiant under her cousin’s praise ; “ I’ve 
got another half hour to do before dinner.” 


THE PEOPLE IN NUMBER THIRTY-SIX 55 

And I must study my French for Monday,” 
said Maud, rising. ‘‘ Never mind what I said, 
Amy; if you are a socialist you’ll be a splendid 
one.” And she slipped an arm affectionately 
about her sister’s waist, as the two left the room 
together. 

Mrs. Norris and her nephew were both silent 
for several minutes after the girls had gone. Mrs. 
Norris took up her crocheting; Dick leaned for- 
ward and poked the fire. He was the first to 
speak. 

Aunt Lucy,” he said abruptly, “ I want to 
ask you something. Do you or Uncle Harry ever 
hear anything of the people who took my little 
sister Dorothy ? ” 

Mrs. Norris gave a violent start. 

“ What put that question into your head, 
Dick?” 

Dick flushed. “ I hardly know,” he said ; I’ve 
been thinking a good deal about it lately. I have 
wanted to talk to you about it, but, well, — I never 
quite liked to, knowing it was a painful sub- 
ject.” 

Mrs. Norris was silent for a moment; her face 
was grave, and a little sad, but when she spoke 
her voice was very gentle. 

“ Tell me how much of the story you know,” 


56 


ONLY DOLLIE 


she said. “You were such a little fellow when it all 
happened that you surely can’t remember much.” 

“ Not very, but I remember some things. I 
remember father and mother, and Arthur and 
Lucy, and the old home. I remember little Doro- 
thy, too, after a fashion, though she was only 
a baby, and I never played with her, as I did with 
the others. I have a dim recollection of a strange, 
confused time when every one was ill, and I was 
sent away to stay with some old ladies, who were 
very kind to me. I remember waking up one 
morning, and finding one of the old ladies — I 
think I called her Auntie Susan — crying by my 
bedside, and when I asked her what was the 
matter, she took me in her arms and cried harder 
than before. And then somehow I found out 
that they were all dead, father and mother, and 
Arthur and Lucy. I don’t think I was old enough 
to quite realize what it all meant, and every one 
petted me so much that I had an idea I was quite 
an important person. Very soon after that, I 
came North to you, and it has always seemed to 
me as if my real life began from that time. I 
don’t know who told me little Dorothy hadn’t died 
of the fever, but I have always known it, and 
once, when I was quite a little chap, I asked LFncle 
Harry about it, and he said it was true, and that 










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THE PEOPLE IN NUMBER THIRTY-SIX 57 


little Dorothy had been adopted by some people 
who had no children of their own. He looked so 
vexed and bothered when he said it, that some- 
how I never liked to ask any more questions.’’ 

Mrs. Norris leaned forward in her chair, and 
laid her hand caressingly on the boy’s curly hair. 
He was only a boy to her, in spite of six feet and 
his eighteen years. 

“ I will tell you all you want to know, dear,” 
she said, gently. “ It is only natural you should 
be curious, and I have sometimes thought you 
ought to be told ; but it is a subject that we — that 
is, your uncle and I — always dislike talking 
about. It was a great sorrow to us both when 
it happened. 

‘‘ You know your mother was my only sister. 
We loved each other very dearly, and when she 
married and went so far away to live, it was a 
great grief to us all. But we liked your father 
so much, he was such a fine, manly young fellow — 
you are very much like him, Dick — and they were 
so devoted to each other that no one had the heart 
to object. His family had been very well off in 
the days before the war, but like most southern 
families, they lost everything when the slaves 
were freed, and at the time your father married 
he was earning a small income as a country law- 


58 


ONLY DOLLIE 


yer. Things went well for a few years, and they 
were very happy. Then one spring there was a 
heavy bank failure, and your father met with seri- 
ous losses. They were both very brave about it, 
and I still have the dear, cheerful letter your 
mother wrote me, in which she said that, so long 
as they had their health, and the children were 
spared to them, they had no right to complain, 
and were quite willing to begin at the bottom of 
the ladder and work their way up once more. 
Uncle Harry and I could do little to help them, 
for we were not so well ofif in those days as we 
are now, and we were living in a tiny house in 
Yonkers, with one servant to do all the work. 

“ Only about a month after your mother had 
written me that letter, yellow fever broke out in 
the town where you lived, and before your father 
could make arrangements for having you sent 
away out of danger, both he and one of the older 
children were taken down with it. Your mother 
and the other child followed a day or two later. 
You and little Dorothy — who was only six months 
old — were sent away, you to some old friends of 
the family, the baby to a widowed sister of your 
father’s, a Mrs. Leroy, living in New Orleans. 
You know what happened, and how terrible it all 
was. When we heard the dreadful news uncle 


the people in number THIRTY-SIX 59 

Harry said at once that we should adopt one of 
the two children who were left; we did not feel 
that we could take both, and besides, Mrs. Leroy 
wrote that she would provide for the little girl, of 
whom she appeared to be fond. 

'‘We sent for you, and you came to us, a little 
curly-headed boy of seven, with very round eyes, 
and very loving little ways, that won our hearts 
almost from the first moment. 

“ It was some months before we heard anything 
of the baby. Then I wrote Mrs. Leroy, asking 
her to let us know how my little niece was getting 
on. Imagine our feelings when in reply Mrs. 
Leroy wrote that she could not give me the in- 
formation I wanted, as the child had been adopted 
a short time previously by a wealthy family, living 
in a distant state. She explained that she had not 
found it convenient to provide for the child her- 
self, as her own three children required all her 
small income, and that it had seemed to her the 
wisest course to give her little niece to people, who 
having no children themselves, and being most 
anxious to adopt her, would undoubtedly be de- 
voted to her. 

" I can’t tell you about that time, it was so 
dreadful. My own sister’s child adopted by 
strangers, the very thought almost broke my heart. 


6o 


ONLY DOLLIE 


As for Uncle Harry, he was almost too angry for 
words. He went at once to New Orleans him- 
self, and did everything in his power to discover 
where the child had been taken, but it was all of 
no use. 

“Mrs. Leroy said that the family who had 
adopted her, had made her promise solemnly never 
to let little Dorothy’s relations learn what had 
become of her ; they wished her to be brought up 
as their own child, and never to be troubled by 
any of her family. No persuasions could prevail 
on Mrs. Leroy to reveal the secret, and the serv- 
ants either knew nothing, or had been bribed to 
keep silence on the subject. We did all we could, 
but in the end we had to give up in despair. That 
was more than eleven years ago, and we have 
never heard a word since. I sometimes cry about 
it, even now, for it seems so sad to think of my 
own little niece being brought up by people who 
never even knew her dear mother. But I comfort 
myself with thinking that by this time they must 
have learned to love her just as much as if she 
were really their own little child, just as we love 
you every bit as dearly as if you were the little 
boy we lost fifteen years ago.” 

Mrs. Norris’ sweet voice trembled a little, and 


/ 


THE PEOPLE IN NUMBER THIRTY-SIX 6i 

Dick Marston took his aunt’s soft hand in his own 
and kissed it. 

“ Thank you, auntie,” he said huskily ; “ I am 
glad you told me the whole story, I have wanted 
to hear it for a long time. Does that Leroy wo- 
man still live in New Orleans?” 

“ My dear boy, she is your own aunt, your 
father’s sister.” 

‘‘Well; my father’s sister, then; does she still 
live in New Orleans? ” 

“ I don’t know ; I have not heard of her for 
years. She and Uncle Harry quarrelled at the 
time he went to New Orleans to look for little 
Dorothy, and we lost track of the family after 
that. I have never seen her myself, but I used to 
hear your dear mother talk of her. She was some 
years older than your father, and I don’t think 
your mother was ever very fond of her.” 

“ But they would know her address in New Or- 
leans — she could be found ? ” 

“ Oh, I suppose so, but why? You are not anx- 
ious to meet her, are you ? ” 

Dick’s eyes flashed, but his voice was calm — al- 
most too calm his aunt thought. It seemed to 
her that he looked all at once like a man, not a 
boy. 


/ 


62 


ONLY DOLLIE 


“ I am going to see her — to force her to tell 
me what she did with my little sister Dorothy.” 

“ My dear boy, it would be of no use. Uncle 
Harry did everything in his power to persuade her 
to tell, but she was as firm as a rock.” 

“ That was different,” said Dick, with decision ; 
“ she cannot refuse to tell Dorothy’s own brother, 
and she will not. Oh, Aunt Lucy, I am so glad 
Uncle Harry succeeded in selling that land of my 
father’s at such a good price.” 

A look of pain crossed Mrs. Norris’ face, but, 
she said nothing. Dick noticed the look, and hast- 
ened to explain. 

Not for my own sake, oh auntie dear, you 
never thought I meant that. I never realize for a 
moment that you and Uncle Harry are not my 
own true parents. But with Dorothy it will be 
different. She won’t have loved you all her life as 
I have; it will be nice for her to feel that she has 
something of her very own. But here comes 
Uncle Harry, and it’s time I went to dress for 
dinner.” 

He rose as he spoke, kissed his aunt affection- 
ately, and ran off up stairs, two steps at a time. He 
was only a boy, after all, Mrs. Norris decided, 
smiling a little sadly, but all that evening she 


THE PEOPLE IN NUMBER THIRTY-SIX 63 


watched him with anxious eyes, and although he 
laughed and joked, and played games with the 
girls as usual, she noticed that he looked older 
somehow, and more thoughtful than he had ever 
looked before. After Maud and Amy had gone up 
stairs to bed, he was unusually silent. He took 
up a book, but his aunt noticed that he had not 
turned a page in fully ten minutes, and in a short 
time he laid it down again, and turning to his 
uncle, said abruptly: — 

“ Uncle Harry you told me I might go off 
somewhere for a trip in the Christmas Holidays if 
I liked ; would you have any objection to my going 
to New Orleans?” 

“ New Orleans,” Mr. Norris repeated, looking 
up from his newspaper in some surprise. “ Why, 
ho, my boy, I suppose not, if you’ve really set your 
heart on going there ; but isn’t it rather a long trip 
for such a short time? ” 

“ I dare say it is, but I have a particular reason 
for wishing to go ; I want to find my father’s sis- 
ter, Mrs. Leroy.” 

As Dick was kissing his aunt good-night, half 
an hour later, she suddenly drew him to her, and 
whispered softly, with her arms about his neck : — 

“ Only find my little Dorothy for me, and you 


64 


ONLY DOLLIE 


will make me the happiest woman in this whole 
world.” 

“ ril try my best, auntie,” he answered, a trifle 
unsteadily. 

“ I know you will, my own brave boy, and God 
will help you, I am sure He will.” 




01 - 



CHAPTER IV 


DOLLIE MAKES A FRIEND 

I T was several days before the Norris girls 
found it convenient to return Flora Rogers’ 
call, and Mrs. Foster had been more than 
once heard to remark that she didn’t think “ those 
Norrises ” were very neighborly ; but one cloudy 
afternoon, in the middle of the following week 
Dollie saw them from the nursery window, cross- 
ing the street, and her heart began to beat unac- 
countably fast, though she could scarcely have told 
why, for Flora never brought her friends into the 
nursery, and of course it was not at all likely that 
the visitors would ask for her. 

Flora — who had also seen the approaching call- 
ers — ran down stairs to welcome them, her face 
wreathed in smiles, and conducted them at once 
to her own room, where she produced a box of 
chocolates for the general refreshment, and pro- 
ceeded to show off her var* )Us treasures. 

I’m so sorry Aunt Kate is out,” she said, re- 
gretfully; “she’d be so glad to see you, and I know 
65 


66 


ONLY DOLLIE 


she’d let us have some chocolate to drink. She al- 
ways does when I have company in the afternoon, 
and she makes it deliciously, but I don’t suppose 
that stupid Sarah would have the least idea how to 
do it.” 

Both visitors declared that they were not in 
the least hungry, and Amy added, with character- 
istic frankness: — 

We only finished lunch an hour ago ; I don’t 
see how people can like to be eating and drinking 
all day long.” 

“ Aunt Kate thinks it very bad for the com- 
plexion to eat too many rich things,” remarked 
Flora, helping herself to a large chocolate cream 
as she spoke. “ Are you looking at those photo- 
graphs? That’s my older sister, Frances, don’t 
you think she’s pretty. She’s nearly seventeen, 
and she’s got lots of attention already. Every- 
body say she’ll be a great belle when she comes 
out; that’s my little brother, Fred, he’s only nine, 
and a dreadful tease. Yes, that’s my mother; I 
do wish she hadn’t worn such a dowdy bonnet 
when she had her picture taken.” 

“ Don’t you miss your people dreadfully, and 
get ever so homesick sometimes ? ” Maud inquired 
sympathetically. 

“ Oh, no, not a bit. I’m having a lovely winter. 


DOLLIE MAKES A FRIEND 


67 


Rochester’s an awful poky place, I just hate it. 
I was going home for the Christmas Holidays, but 
Aunt Kate thinks it would be very foolish and ex- 
travagant, so I wrote my mother to-day that I 
shouldn’t come before spring, anyway.” 

“ I should hate to be away from home on 
Christmas,” said Amy bluntly. 

“ Oh, we don’t make much of Christmas at 
home; you do, I suppose?” 

“Yes, indeed, we have such lovely times. Maud 
and I always begin our shopping weeks before- 
hand, and as for making presents. I’ve been at 
work on mine ever since September. We always 
have something for everyone, and we all, even 
father and mother, hang up our stockings. Then 
we have a big tree on Christmas Eve, and our 
friends all come to that. Oh, it’s all so splendid, 
and it’s only just one month off.” And Amy gave 
a little irrepressible skip of delight. 

“ I’m making a table cover for mother’s Christ- 
mas present,” said Maud, unfolding a small par- 
cel she had brought with her. “ I have such a 
time working at it, for of course I don’t want her 
to know what I’m doing, so I thought it would be 
a good chance to get on a little this afternoon, and 
we could talk at the same time.” 

Flora admired the work, and the three little 


68 


ONLY DOLLIE 


girls spent the next half hour very pleasantly, 
chatting, sewing and eating chocolates. Then 
the sound of children’s voices, suddenly arrested 
Amy’s attention. 

I see your little cousins out walking some- 
times,” she remarked ; they look so cunning, es- 
pecially the little boy. I should like to talk to them 
sometime. I’m so fond of babies. By the way, 
how old is that little nurse girl ? She doesn’t look 
any older than we are.” 

“ Nurse girl,” repeated Flora; “oh, you mean 
Dollie. She’s only twelve, but she isn’t exactly a 
nurse girl, you know.” 

“ Who is Dollie, anyway,” inquired Maud, 
with considerable curiosity. “We have all been 
wondering about her. My cousin, Dick Marston, 
met her the other evening, and he said she seemed 
so sweet and lady-like.” 

“ Yes, I know he met her,” said Flora coloring 
dightly; “Dollie told us about it, and he was very 
kind to her, too. I want to thank him, myself, 
for if he hadn’t rescued my new gloves, I 
couldn’t have gone to the Nelson party that 
night.” 

“ Dick said it was dreadfully late for a little girl 
to be out all by herself,” observed Amy, the out- 
spoken. 


DOLLIE MAKES A FRIEND 69 

Maud looked rather distressed, and Flora 
blushed deeper than before, and bit her lip. 

“ It was rather late,” she admitted, “ but Dol- 
lie offered to go; besides it couldn’t be helped, 
there was no one else to send.” 

“ But who is Dollie,” repeated Maud, anxious 
to save Flora further embarrassment by steering 
the conversation into safer channels. 

“ Oh, she’s nobody very particular. Her father 
and mother both died when she was a baby, and 
Uncle Frank’s first wife adopted her. When the 
first Mrs. Foster died, Uncle Frank still kept her 
with him, and when he married Aunt Kate she 
came here to live with them ; that’s all.” 

“ And doesn’t she go to school, or get any edu- 
cation ? ” 

“ She did go to school last year, I believe, but 
she’s studying at home this winter.” 

“ Why don’t you ask her to come up here with 
us ? ” inquired Amy, innocently. “ I should think 
she would like to go with other girls sometimes.” 

“ Oh, well, I couldn’t do that. You see she has 
to look after the children, and they would be such 
a bother. I do have Dollie come in to talk to me 
very often in the evenings, and we have real nice 
times together. I tell her about school, and the 
parties I go to, and everything, and she’s just as 


70 


ONLY DOLLIE 


interested as can be. She really is a very nice 
little thing; Fm really getting quite fond of her.’’ 

‘‘ Would you mind if I went down stairs to see 
her for a little while,” suggested Amy with some 
eagerness. “ I should love to see the children, 
too.” 

Maud looked a little doubtful, but Flora smiled 
approvingly. ' The fact was, she had not found 
Amy quite as charming as her older sister, and 
she had a shrewd suspicion that that young person, 
though almost two years younger than herself, did 
not admire her as much as she liked to be admired. 
She was anxious to make a few interesting con- 
fidences to Maud, and it might be just as well to 
have the younger sister out of the way for a little 
while. 

I think it would be very kind of you,” she 
said, heartily. “ Dollie would appreciate it a 
great deal,- I’m sure. You’ll find them all in the 
second story front, the room right under this, but 
you mustn’t stay too long, or Maud and I will be 
jealous. Shall I go down with you, and introduce 
you to Dollie ? ” 

Amy protested that this was not at all neces- 
sary, and promptly took her departure. 

“ You mustn’t mind Amy,” said Maud apolo- 
getically, as her sister left the room ; “ she’s dread- 


DOLLIE MAKES A FRIEND 


71 


fully blunt, and she hasn’t very much tact, but 
she’s such a dear, and it really is more Dick’s fault 
than hers, for he always will laugh at her what- 
ever she does, and he spoils her dreadfully.” 

“ I think she’s perfectly lovely,” responded 
Flora ; “ I like to hear people say what they really 
think.” 

Meanwhile, Amy, feeling rather excited, and 
more intei*ested than she had expected to be when 
Maud had insisted on her going with her to re- 
turn Flora Rogers’ call that afternoon, had made 
her way down stairs, and presented herself at the 
nursery door. 

Dollie had not been feeling quite up to the mark 
for the past two or three days. Her cold was 
troublesome, her back had ached more than usual, 
and her charges had been more than usually 
cross. That afternoon she had been endeavoring 
to amuse Tootie — who also had a slight cold — and 
study her arithmetic at the same time, a task ren- 
dered doubly difficult by Ralph, who made fre- 
quent demands for assistance in the management 
of his wind up train,” which wouldn’t work very 
well. Perhaps the sounds of voices and laughter, 
which occasionally reached her from above, and 
the reflection that she was to have no share in the 
good time going on in Flora’s room, had some- 


72 


ONLY DOLLIE 


thing to do with her low spirits ; but^ at any rate, 
whatever the cause, she was in very low spirits in- 
deed, and more than once she had been obliged to 
wipe away a few hot, rebellious tears. 

She had just settled the children down to 
playing tea-party ” with some cookies smuggled 
from the pantry, and once more taken up her slate, 
with the vague hope of doing her sum correctly 
for Uncle Frank to see, when there came a tap at 
the nursery door, and looking up, she saw, to her 
amazement, Amy Norris’ eager little dark face 
smiling in upon her, in the most friendly manner 
imaginable. 

Dollie was on her feet in a moment, scarcely 
knowing what to make of this sudden apparition. 

“Did you — did you want anything?” she 
stammered, coming forward ; “ were you looking 
for anyone? ” 

“ Yes, I was looking for you,” said Amy, 
laughing. “ Flora said I should find you down 
here; I wanted to see you and the children, too.” 

How it was Dollie never precisely knew, but no 
one could possibly be shy or embarrassed with 
frank, out-spoken Amy, and in less than five min- 
utes the visitor was sitting on the floor between 
Ralph and Tootie, taking part in the “ tea party ” 
and nibbling bits of stale cookies, with as much 


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IN THE “TEA PARTY” Pilge 72 




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DOLLIE MAKES A FRIEND 


73 


apparent relish as if they had been the most deli- 
cious dainties in the world. Dollie’s poor, foolish 
little heart beat high with pride and pleasure. 
Never had her charges shown off to greater ad- 
vantage. Tootie, who generally cried when 
strangers spoke to her — actually forgot to be shy, 
but let the visitor kiss her, answered so prettily, 
when Amy asked her her name, “ Hawet Tootie 
Foster.’' 

“ Her real name’s Harriet Foster,” Ralph ex- 
plained, with an air of vast superiority, but we 
calls her Tootie ’cause she’s only a baby. I’m 
Ralph, and I’m ’most five and a half.” 

When all the cookies were eaten, Amy readily 
agreed to Ralph’s proposal that she and Dollie 
should “ go for a drive,” and an arrangement of 
chairs was accordingly made, Ralph acting as 
horse, and Tootie as driver. As all that was re- 
quested of the two girls was “ to sit on the back 
seat,” and be “ taken to Central Park,” and as 
both Ralph and Tootie were both occupied in their 
capacities of horse and driver, Dollie and Amy 
at last found an opportunity of exchanging a few 
remarks on their own account. 

Do you know,” began Amy, confidentially, 
“ I’ve wanted to get acquainted with you for ever 
so long. I’ve seen you and the children going out 


74 


ONLY DOLLIE 


almost every day, and yesterday I did want 
awfully to come across the street and speak to you, 
but I didn’t quite like to.” 

‘‘ I should have liked it very much if you had,” 
said Dollie, smiling; “ I’ve watched you all too — 
at least I used to until Mrs. Foster said it was rude 
to stare. I hope you didn’t think I meant to be 
rude.” 

“ No, indeed; I never saw you stare, and even if 
you had I don’t think it would have been exactly 
rude. People can’t help staring sometimes when 
they’re much interested in things — at least I 
can’t.” 

“ I was very much interested in you all,” said 
Dollie. “ I don’t know why exactly, except it was 
because you seemed so happy.” 

‘'We are happy,” said Amy. “ I heard a friend 
of mother’s say once that she didn’t know of a 
happier family than we were. But I was inters 
ested in you, too, and so was Dick. Dick’s my 
cousin, you know; you saw him the other night.” 

“ Yes, and he was so kind. I used to think he 
was your brothA, but Flora said his name was 
Dick Marston.” 

“ Dick is just exactly the same as our own 
brother,” Amy explained. “ You see, his father 
and mother died, and he has lived with us ever 


DOLLIE MAKES A FRIEND 


75 


since he was seven. That was before I was born, 
so of course Fve known him all my life. He’s so 
good, and clever and splendid. Just think, he got 
into Columbia, without a single condition, when 
he was only seventeen. He’s always so kind to 
us, and we’re so proud of him. I don’t think 
many girls’ brothers are half so nice.” 

I wish I had brothers and sisters of my own,” 
said Dollie, a little wistfully. “ It must be so 
beautiful to have a home like yours, and people to 
love you all the time.” 

“ It is nice,” assented Amy; “but haven’t you 
relations at all ? ” 

“ Not a single one, except Uncle Frank, and he 
isn’t really my own uncle, only an adopted one. 
Don’t whip so hard, Tootie; you’ll hurt poor 
Ralph ! ” 

“ Don’t you remember your father and mother, 
or anybody at all ? ” 

Dollie shook her head sadly, and with a sudden 
kindly impulse, warm-hearted Amy slipped her 
small hand confidingly into Dollie’s. 

“ You must come over to our house,” she said 
cheerfully. “I know mother would like to have 
you, and we’ll all have such good times together. 
Ralph and Tootie can come, too, if they like, and 
they can hear my phonograph. Did you ever hear 


76 


ONLY DOLLIE 


a phonograph ? — they’re such fun ! ” And Amy 
launched forth into a glowing description of 
her latest toy, in the interest of which Dollie 
speedily forgot her own very unsatisfactory 
history. 

It seemed to Dollie, when she thought of it af- 
terward, that that afternoon was one of the pleas- 
antest she had ever spent. Amy proved a most 
delightful companion, and they soon made the in- 
teresting discovery that they were both very fond 
of the same books, and had many other tastes in 
common. Amy was a clever little girl, unusually 
fond of study, and she sympathized most heartily 
with Dollie in her regret at being obliged to give 
up school, and agreed with her that studying at 
home was not at all the same thing. 

‘‘ You see, I hate to grow up ignorant,” Dollie 
explained; “ ignorant people are so stupid and un- 
interesting. Aunt Gertrude, that was Uncle 
Frank’s first wife, you know — used to tell me I 
must study hard so I should be interesting when I 
grew up.” 

“ Don’t you think your uncle would let you go 
to school if you coaxed him real hard ? ” Amy in- 
quired, anxiously. 

He would let me go if he could, I know, but 
Mrs. Foster says I can’t be spared.” 


DOLLIE MAKES A FRIEND 


77 


“ Then I think Mrs. Foster must be just hor- 
rid/’ decided Amy, who never hesitated to express 
an opinion, under any circumstances. Fortunately 
Ralph and Tootie were at the moment very much 
absorbed in their own affairs, or Ralph’s quick 
ears might have taken in more than would have 
been quite agreeable. 

It was a real regret to both girls when Flora 
and Maud made their appearance at five o’clock. 

‘‘ You naughty girl,” exclaimed Flora, re- 
proachfully, putting her head in at the nursery 
door; “I thought you were only coming down 
for a little while, and you’ve stayed away the 
whole afternoon.” 

I’ve been having such a lovely time with Dol- 
lie,” Amy explained, “ I really forgot to go back. 
Is it really time to go home, Maud?” 

Time to go home ! I should think it was. It’s 
after five, and mother told us to leave at half past 
four. I was having such a nice time with Flora, 
I never even thought to look at the clock. We 
must hurry now, though, or we won’t have time to 
study our lessons before dinner.” 

“ Good-bye, Dollie,” said Amy, kissing her new 
friend affectionately, a rare action on her part, for 
Amy never kissed anybody she did not like very 
much indeed. Be sure and come over to see me 


78 


ONLY DOLLIE 


very soon, and you can borrow any of my books 
you like.” 

“ You and that little Dollie seem to be great 
friends,” observed Maud, as the front door closed 
behind the two little sisters. She seems rather 
nice, too, but I wouldn’t get too intimate with her; 
mother might not like it.” 

“ Why not? ” demanded Amy with some indig- 
nation. 

Why, I don’t know — she is a sort of a servant, 
you see, and, just think; Dick said she did not even 
know her own last name.” 

“ As if that made any difference,” Amy was be- 
ginning, but at that moment she caught sight of 
Dick coming down the street, and the subject of 
Dollie’s antecedents was forgotten for the time. 

“ So the Norrises have called at last,” remarked 
Mrs. Foster, coming into the nursery quar • of 
an hour later; “ Sarah says they have been here 
all the afternoon.” 

'' Yes,” said Flora, looking up from the block 
tower she was constructing for Tootie’s amuse- 
ment ; “ we’ve had a lovely time, and I like Maud 
better than any girl Fve met in New York.” 

I hope you kept them up in your own room, 
and didn’t let them come into this untidy place.” 

“ Maud only just looked in for a minute to 


DOLLIE MAKES A FRIEND 


79 


speak to the children on her way out, but Amy 
would insist on coming down here almost as soon 
as she came, and she and Dollie have been having 
a fine time together.” 

“ She and Dollie,” repeated Mrs. Foster in a 
dissatisfied tone ; “ you don’t mean they asked for 
Dollie.” 

“ They didn’t ask for her at the door, but they 
seemed very curious about her, and kept asking 
me questions, and at last Amy said she wanted to 
come down here and see her and the children. Of 
course I couldn’t prevent her.” 

No, I suppose, you couldn’t, but I hope you 
were careful to explain what Dollie’s position 
really is — where is she now, by the way ? ” 

Only gone down to the kitchen for the chil- 
dren’s tea ; I said I’d stay with them till she came 
back.” 

iVhat did you tell the Norrises about her?” 
Mrs. Foster persisted, looking decidedly annoyed. 

“ Oh, I told them Dollie was adopted by the 
first Mrs. Foster, and that you and Uncle Frank 
let her live here, and look after the children, be- 
cause all her people were dead. Amy is a queer 
girl — I don’t like her nearly as much as Maud.” 

Mrs. Foster said no more on the subject, but 
vented her ill humor by scolding Ralph for having 


8o 


ONLY DOLLIE 


a smooch on his face — a scolding which that 
young gentleman bore with philosophic calm, be- 
ing well accustomed to similar reproofs. In a 
few minutes Dollie returned, bringing the chil- 
dren’s supper of bread and milk. 

So Dollie, I hear you have been entertaining 
company this afternoon,” Mrs. Foster observed 
in a rather disagreeable tone, as Dollie put down 
her tray, and prepared to set the nursery tea 
table. 

Dollie looked up with shining eyes — Mrs. Fos- 
ter’s sarcasm was for once lost upon her. 

“ Oh, yes,” she said, eagerly; ‘‘ I’ve had such a 
lovely time; did Flora tell you about it? ” 

“ Yes, she told me.” 

“ Amy Norris is such a nice girl, and she was 
so kind to Ralph and Tootie. They both behaved 
beautifully, and Tootie never cried a tear. She 
wants us all to come over and see her, and hear 
her phonograph. Do you think I might take the 
children over some afternoon? ” 

Certainly not,” returned Mrs. Foster, with 
unmistakable decision. “ Mrs. Norris would prob- 
ably be very much displeased if such a thing oc^ 
curred.” And, without waiting to note the effect 
of her words, the amiable lady flounced out of the 
room. 


DOLLIE MAKES A FRIEND 


8i 


For a moment Dollie stood quite still, while all 
the brightness died out of her face, leaving it 
white and set. Her lip quivered, but she did not 
cry. 

You mustn't mind Aunt Kate," Flora re- 
marked, sympathetically ; “ she’s as cross as a 
bear, but I don’t believe she means all she says. 
I guess she’ll let you go sometime.’’ 

But Dollie knew better. 


CHAPTER V 


“M 


VISITING 

' AY I come in, Amy ? ’’ 

“Oh, is it you Dick? Yes, indeed, 
come right in.” And Amy threw 
down her book, and looked up from her sofa, with 
a smile. 

Dick walked into the room, and took the empty 
chair by his little cousin’s side. Through the win- 
dows the bright December sunshine was pouring, 
but very little of its brightness was reflected on 
Amy’s face. 

“ How are you getting on ? ” the young man 
inquired, kindly. 

Amy sighed. 

“ Oh, all right, I suppose — at least my foot 
doesn’t ache as much as it did yesterday — but it’s 
perfectly horrid to have to lie still all day long. 
Maud’s gone out with mother. She wanted to 
stay at home with me, but I wouldn’t let her. I 
had a new book, and I thought I should be all 
82 


VISITING 


83 


right, but it turned out stupid. Oh dear ! if I only 
hadn’t gone and sprained my ankle, just at this 
time, too, when I had so many things I wanted 
to do before Christmas. It was such a little 
thing, just forgetting to tie my shoe-lace, and slip- 
ping down the last two stairs.” 

“ But think how fortunate it is that it wasn’t a 
great deal worse,” put in Dick, cheerfully. “ Dr. 
Wentworth says you’ll be all right again in a 
week, and you might have been laid up for 
months, as I was when I broke my knee cap.” 

“ Oh, Dick, that was dreadful, and you were 
so good and patient all the time, too. I remember 
it, and how Maud and I used to sit in your room 
and take turns reading aloud to you. I was only 
seven then, and I remember I read Grimm’s Fairy 
Tales, and had to spell out all the words over four 
letters, but you were so nice and kind, and never 
seemed to mind a bit. How did you ever stand 
lying still so long ? It seems to me as if I couldn’t 
bear it when I think of just having to lie here for 
three or four days.” 

Dick smiled. 

“ I just had to stand it,” he said rather grimly. 

There was a short pause, which Amy broke by 
inquiring rather wistfully, what are you going 
to do this afternoon, Dick?” 


84 


ONLY DOLI^IE 


Well, I hadn’t any particular plans, so I 
thought I might as well stay at home as do any- 
thing else. What do you say to a game of 
dominoes, ” 

Amy’s woe'-begone little face brightened. 

Oh, Dick, how good you are ; you mean 
. you’re going to stay in the house the whole after- 
noon with me. But you mustn’t, I won’t let you. 
There’s skating in the park, Maud told me so, and 
I won’t have you miss it the first day.” 

Nonsense!” returned her cousin, pleasantly; 
“ I don’t care a fig about skating, at least not to- 
day. I feel in a real lazy mood, just suitable to 
quiet, stay-at-home amusements.” 

“ Then there are all your lessons,” objected 
Amy; Oh Dick, you really mustn't.” 

“ Plenty of time for them this evening, after 
dinner, — now shall I get the dominoes, or would 
you rather do something else?” 

Do you know, Dick, I really believe you are 
the very best boy in the world,” remarked Amy in 
a tone of conviction. I don’t believe any other 
girls have such a splendid brother.” 

Dick laughed, but he looked immensely flat- 
tered, nevertheless. 

'' I’m sorry for the other girls, then,” he 
said, carelessly, “ but it’s my conviction there 


VISITING 85 

are heaps of chaps a thousand times better than 
I am/’ 

'' I feel sorry for them, too,” said Amy, gravely, 
ignoring the latter part of her cousin’s speech. “ I 
feel very sorry for some people, especially people 
who haven’t got any relations. I was thinking 
about that poor little Dollie across the way; she 
hasn’t a single relation, except one adopted uncle^ 
and I don’t think she ever has a nice time.” 

I thought you said you had asked her to come 
over and see you some time.” 

“ So I did, and she said she’d love to come, but 
she never has, and that’s over a week ago now. 
Flora Rogers was here the other day, and I asked 
her about Dollie, but she said, ‘ Oh, Dollie’s all 
right ! ’ and went on talking to Maud, as if it 
wasn’t any consequence. I wish she would come, 
though, for I like her ever so much.” 

“ I tell you what,” exclaimed Dick, with a sud- 
den inspiration, “ I’ll go over there now, and ask 
her to come this afternoon, I’ll say you’re laid up 
with a sprained ankle and would like to have her 
come and cheer you up.” 

Amy looked much pleased at this suggestion, 
but next moment her face clouded again. 

'' I’m afraid Mrs. Foster won’t let her come,” 
she said, doubtfully. She said she had to take 


86 


ONLY DOLLIE 


care of the children all day, and I don^t think I 
feel quite up to having them this afternoon. I 
couldn’t romp with them, you see, and they 
wouldn’t care about just sitting still.” 

Well, I’ll see if I can’t succeed in touching the 
stony Mrs. Foster’s heart,” said Dick, rising; 
“ and even if I should fail, there won’t be any 
harm done.” 

'' Oh, Dick, you are just lovely,” exclaimed 
Amy, admiringly, I believe you could make 
any one do what you asked. Tell Mrs. Foster my 
foot aches a great deal, and I really want Dollie 
very, very much.” 

Dick laughed as he left the room, and ran down 
stairs; three minutes later he was ringing the Fos- 
ters’ front door bell. 

The door was opened by Mrs. Foster, herself, 
that lady being in the act of starting for a round 
of afternoon calls. At sight of Dick she smiled 
very pleasantly indeed. 

“ Oh, Mr. Marston,” she began graciously, be- 
fore Dick had time to explain his errand, 
“ Flora will be so disappointed to miss your call. 
She has gone skating with a party of school 
friends.” 

“ I didn’t come to see Miss Flora this after- 
noon,” said Dick rather bluntly. (Dick never could 


VISITING 


87 


learn to be very polite to people he did not like.) 
“My cousin Amy has met with rather a bad acci- 
dent. She slipped on the stairs yesterday morn- 
ing and sprained her ankle, so that she has been 
confined to the sofa ever since, and we are afraid 
it will be several days before she is about again. 
She is very anxious to have little Miss Dollie come 
and spend the afternoon with her.” 

Mrs. Foster’s face was a study. 

“ Dollie,” she repeated, “.you are sure she said 
Dollie, not Flora? ” 

“ Quite sure,” said Dick, with a smile. 

“ Please come in for a moment,” said Mrs. Fos- 
ter, solemnly. 

Dick complied, and Mrs. Foster closed the door, 
and led the way into the parlor. 

“ I think, Mr. Marston,” Mrs. Foster began in 
rather a low voice, as she seated herself on the 
sofa, and motioned to her visitor to take the va- 
cant place beside her, “ that I ought to explain 
something about Dollie. Flora told me your little 
cousin had been extremely kind to her, and I con- 
fess I was rather sorry to hear it. I was afraid 
your aunt, Mrs. Norris, might be displeased. You 
see, poor little Dorothy will occupy a very dif- 
ferent position in the world from her daughters, 
or even my Flora, and I should be extremely sorry 


88 


ONLY DOLLIE 


to think that her little girls had been allowed to 
make undesirable acquaintances in, this house. 
Dollie is a good child — a very good child — but 
you understand her position — 

Dick was on the point of saying bother her 
position,” but he checked himself just in time, and 
said instead, that he was quite sure his aunt would 
have no objection whatever to the acquaintance, 
and that she had, on the contrary, expressed a 
good deal of interest herself in little Dollie, and 
had given Amy permission to invite the child to 
spend an afternoon with her whenever she chose. 
Mrs. Foster listened in silence, but she no longer 
smiled, and when Dick had finished what he had 
to say by again repeating Amy’s request that Dol- 
lie might be allowed to spend a couple of hours 
with her that afternoon, she rose, saying coldly : — 
“ Of course, Mr. Marston, if you are sure that 
your aunt will have no objection, I have nothing 
more to say. I am only too happy to be able to con- 
tribute in any way towards your poor little cousin’s 
amusement, but I hope you will explain to Mrs. 
Norris that it was my wish that she should thor- 
oughly understand the state of affairs. I will 
send Dollie over in a little while.” 

Thank you, very much,” said Dick, holding 
out his hand with such a frank, bright smile that 


VISITING ' 


89 


Mrs. Foster’s heart was softened a little, in spite 
of her vexation at his errand, and she bade him a 
very friendly good-bye. But there was no very 
pleasant expression on her face when it appeared 
at the nursery door a couple of moments later, and 
her voice sounded anything but cheerful as she 
announced sharply : — 

Dollie, you are wanted across the way, to 
amuse that Norris child^ who sprained her ankle 
yesterday.” 

Dollie — who was engaged in laboriously darn- 
ing her own stockings, while Ralph and Tootie 
took her for a drive,” looked up with an expres- 
sion of blank bewilderment on her pale little face. 
But the bewilderment was quickly changed to un- 
mistakable delight, as Mrs. Foster went on. 

That Marston boy has just been over to ask 
my permission. Of course I couldn’t very well re- 
fuse, under the circumstances, but I must say I 
was rather vexed about it. I can’t see what on 
earth she wants you for. I should think there 
were servants enough in that house to amuse her, 
even if her mother and sister have gone out.” 

“ And can I really go ? — did you really tell him 
I could go ? ” interrupted Dollie, too excited to 
heed Mrs. Foster’s ill temper — to heed anything, 
in fact, but the one delightful thought, she was 


90 


ONLY DOLLIE 


to see Amy Norris again, actually to be admitted 
as a guest into that delightful house, about which 
Flora told such interesting stories. 

“ I told that boy I would send you over, but Fm 
sure I don’t see how it’s to be managed. I don’t 
intend to stay at home all the afternoon, so I sup- 
pose Sarah will have to leave her work, and come 
up here to stay with the children.” 

Dollie’s face fell; she was a faithful little soul, 
and did not like to desert her post. 

“ Sarah’s cleaning silver,” she suggested, rather 
timidly; “ couldn’t Ralph and Tootie go down in 
the dining-room to play ? She could watch them 
then, and go on with her work just the same.” 

“ Well, I suppose they’ll have to, but it’s a great 
nuisance, any way, and I hope this sort of thing 
isn’t going to happen often. Now the question is, 
what are you going to wear? ” 

Dollie glanced down at her shabby brown cash- 
mere. There were two darns in the sleeves, and 
although the skirt had been twice let down, it was 
still much too short. 

“ Of course, you’ll have to change your dress,” 
said Mrs. Foster, crossly. “ You didn’t expect to 
go visiting in that rig, did you? A nice opinion 
Mrs. Norris would have of me if you did. I sup- 
pose you must put on your blue nun’s veiling. 


VISITING 


91 


but mind you don’t spill anything on it, or get it 
torn. It’s the only good dress you’ve got, and it 
will be a long time before you get another, I can 
tell you. Be sure your hair looks neat, and your 
finger nails are clean. Don’t stay any longer than 
you can help, and remember to speak of us as Mr. 
and Mrs. Foster. It sounds so ridiculous to hear 
you talking about “ Uncle Frank,” when everyone 
knows perfectly well that he isn’t the slightest 
relation to you.” 

Mrs. Foster fussed and scolded, but Dollie was 
used to that. What did it matter? — what did 
anything matter, with the prospect of such a de- 
lightful treat before her? With shaking hands 
she changed her dress, smoothed her hair, and 
then, having left her little charges in Sarah’s care, 
she closed the Fosters’ front door behind her and 
crossed the street with a wildly beating heart. 

It seemed almost like a dream, that she, Dollie, 
should be actually mounting the steps of Number 
Thirty-six, and fearlessly ringing the door-bell, 
just as Flora, or any other girl — who was 
not a little drudge — might have done. She did 
not have long to wait, for Dick Marston had seen 
her crossing the street, and came running down 
stairs to let her in himself; so the very first face 
Dollie saw, as the door opened, was the frank. 


92 


ONLY DOLLIE 


boyish one that had looked down upon her so 
kindly in the street that stormy evening. 

This is just first rate,” exclaimed the young 
fellow, heartily ; Amy has been watching for 
you for the past half-hour. She’ll be delighted to 
see you.” 

“ I’m so sorry she’s sick,” said Dollie, sorrow- 
fully; “ I hope her foot isn’t very bad.” 

Oh, no, not very ; a sprained ankle isn’t very 
pleasant, but we hope she’ll be about again in a 
few days. How are you, by the way? You didn’t 
take cold that wet afternoon, I hope ? ” 

“Yes, I did — at least I think so; I’ve had a 
cough ever since, but I don’t mind it much. Flora 
was so glad about the gloves ; I told her how kind 
you were.” 

“Well, suppose we come up to Amy’s room; 
I know she’s dying with impatience.” 

Dick led the way, and Dollie followed, drinking 
in with eager, beauty loving eyes, every detail of 
the pretty, luxurious home that was such a con- 
trast in every particular from that other home, 
only just across the street. Once she paused, and 
Dick noticed that she was looking at a picture 
that hung on the stairs. 

“ Are you fond of pictures ? ” he said, kindly. 

“ Oh, yes, very, but I hardly ever see any now. 


VISITING 


93 


When we were in Italy Aunt Gertrude used to 
take me with her to the galleries sometimes, and 
I loved them/' 

“ Have you been to Italy ? " Dick inquired in 
astonishment. 

‘‘ Oh, yes, we used to live there, but that was 
long ago, before Aunt Gertrude died." 

Before Dick could ask any more questions, they 
had reached the third story, and Amy’s voice was 
heard calling eagerly: — 

“ Bring her right in, Dick — O Dollie, I’m so 
awfully glad to see you.’’ 

What a pleasant afternoon that was. Long af- 
terward Dollie liked to think about it, and re- 
member how she had enjoyed every moment. 
Dick and Amy had evidently made up their minds 
to give their little neighbor, at least for once in her 
life, a thoroughly good time. 

Dollie had found Amy even more delightful 
and fascinating than on their former meet- 
ing, and as for Dick — well, before the first 
hour was over, she had quite made up her 
mind, that there never had been, and never could 
be, any one quite so perfect as Dick. Dick set the 
phonograph going, and Dollie listened, first in 
amazement, then in growing delight, to the mar- 
velous instrument, that reproduced, in rapid sue- 


94 


ONLY DOLLIE 


cession, street bands, sentimental ballads, and 
amusing recitations. Then, when they were all 
tired of laughing over the droll imitations, and 
Dollie’s favorite selection, “ Tommy Atkins,” had 
been repeated three separate times for her benefit, 
Dick got out the ‘‘ Chautauqua Games,” and they 
were soon absorbed in “ Authors,” “ Cities,” and 
“ Historical Characters.” Dollie did not know 
very much about “ Authors,” or “ Historical 
Characters,’” but when it came to the geographical 
games, she quite eclipsed Amy — who frankly con- 
fessed she hated geography — and even got the bet- 
ter of Dick on several occasions. 

You see, we used to travel a great deal,” she 
explained, blushing, and speaking rather apolo- 
getically, for it did seem somewhat presumptuous 
to even appear to know more on any subject than 
a young gentleman, who was a Sophomore at 
Columbia. 

“ It must be very nice to travel,” remarked 
Amy ; “ I think I might like geography better if 
had really seen some of the places. Have you 
been to Rome, and seen the Leaning Tower of 
Pisa?” 

Oh, yes, and one winter we went up the Nile. 
I was only seven then, but I remember it all quite 
well.” 


VISITING 


95 


How interesting — and you speak French, too, 
I suppose? ” 

“ I used to, and some German, too, but I am 
afraid Fve nearly forgotten all now. If I could 
only have a few lessons, though, Fm sure it would 
come back.” 

“ I declare, it’s a shame ! ” burst out Dick, in- 
dignantly. “ You ought to be going to school every 
day; can’t you persuade the Fosters to send 
you ? ” 

Dollie shook her head. 

I’m afraid not now,” she said, sadly. Uncle 
Frank tries to hear my lessons every evening, but 
sometimes he’s too tired, and sometimes he has 
to go out with Mrs. Foster, so it isn’t very 
regular.” 

“ I should like to have a talk with Mr. Foster,” 
observed Dick, who, like most boys of his age, had 
a rather exalted idea of his own powers ; he 
ought to be made to understand that he isn’t doing 
the right thing by you. You said he and his first 
wife adopted you when you were a baby ? ” 

“ Yes, but, oh, please, don’t blame Uncle 
Frank; it isn’t his fault, indeed it isn’t. Mrs. Fos- 
ter says I can’t be spared to go to school.” 

Dick looked as if he would like to say some- 
thing not very complimentary to Mrs. Foster, but 


96 


ONLY DOLLIE 


seeing Dollie’s evident distress, and crimson 
cheeks, he checked himself in time, and changed 
the conversation by proposing another game. 

This time they played “ Throwing Light ” and 
Dollie proved so clever both in gue-ssing and mys- 
tifying, that Dick and Amy regarded her with 
genuine admiration. But alas ! all pleasant things 
must some time come to an end, and long before 
any of them realized that half of the afternoon had 
gone, the clock struck five, and Dollie rose with a 
sigh. 

“ I must go,” she said feeling very much as 
Cinderella must have felt when the striking of the 
clock warned her that her brief hour of triumph 
was over. I can’t stay any longer; Mrs. Foster 
said I must be back by five — the children have 
their supper at a quarter past.” 

“ Let some one else give them their supper for 
once,” suggested Dick, who could not bear to see 
the sad, tired look creeping back into the pale little 
face once more. 

But Dollie was firm. 

“ If I did, Mrs. Foster would never let me come 
again,” she said ; “ it’s been so lovely, and you’ve 
both been so kind.” 

“ Well, you must just wait one minute any- 
way,” declared Amy, “ for I hear mother and 


VISITING 


97 


Maud coming in, and I do want mother to see 
you/^ 

To tell the truth, Dollie — who found herself 
suddenly overcome by a fit of shyness — would 
have preferred to slip quietly away, without meet- 
ing any other members of the family, but it was 
impossible do escape just then, for Mrs. Norris 
and Maud were already on their way up stairs, 
and before she had time to utter a word of pro- 
test, they had both entered the room together. 

'‘Well, and how has mother’s poor little crip- 
ple been getting on all the afternoon ? ” 

Dollie thought she had never heard such a 
sweet, loving voice before, and when Mrs. Norris 
bent over the sofa to kiss her little daughter, with 
the beautiful tender mother-love shining in her 
face, the poor, lonely child felt a sudden spasm of 
pain at her heart, for which she was herself quite 
unable to account. 

" Oh, I’ve had such a nice time,” exclaimed 
Amy, eagerly. " Dick came in almost as soon as 
you and Maud left, and he went over for Dollie, 
and we’ve been playing games, and having the 
phonograph, and such fun. This is Dollie, mother ; 
I’m so glad you came home in time to see her, for 
she was just going.” 

Then the tender face turned to Dollie, and the 


98 


ONLY DOLLIE 


vSweet voice spoke to her, oh, so kindly. Dollie’s 
cheeks flushed, and her eyes shone with a happi- 
ness she had not known Jn many a long day. 

“ I am so glad you were able to come this af- 
ternoon,” Mrs. Norris said, and she spoke in just 
the same tone she might have used if speaking to 
Flora, or any other girl, who was not “ a little 
drudge ” ; “ Amy has been talking so much about 
you, lately. You must come and see her as often 
as you can while she is laid up.” 

Dollie said “ thank you,” in a very low voice, 
but before she had time to say anything more- 
even if she had had the courage to do so — she was 
seized by a sudden fit of coughing, which made 
her cheeks redder than ever. 

Mrs. Norris looked rather grave. 

“ You have a bad cough, my dear,” she said 
kindly; “ have you had it long? ” 

Dollie explained that she generally had a cough 
in winter, but that she didn’t mind it much ; Mrs. 
Norris seemed scarcely satisfied with this explan- 
ation, and wanted to know what she was taking 
for it. 

Dollie replied that “ Uncle Frank ” had given 
her some lozenges to take if her cough troubled 
her at night, but that they did not seem to do much 


VISITING 


99 


good. Mrs. Norris looked thoughtful for a mo- 
ment, then she said: — 

“ If I should give you some medicine — which 
I have always found helped my little girls very 
much when they have coughs, do you think Mrs. 
Foster would have any objection to your taking 
it? ” 

Dollie said she was sure Mjs. Foster would be 
quite willing, and she added innocently: — 

'' She was saying only this morning that she 
wished I would take something to cure my cough ; 
it made her so nervous to hear me.'’ 

Mrs. Norris said nothing, but went away to 
her own room, and when Dollie came down stairs 
two or three minutes later, accompanied by Dick, 
she found the kind lady waiting for her in the 
second story hall with a large brown bottle, which 
she put into her hand, with a kind mother smile, 
that went straight to Dollie's lonely little heart. 

“ Take a teaspoonful every four hours,” she 
said, ^‘and if your cough isn’t better in a few days, 
come and tell me.” 

“ Hear Dr. Norris,” laughed Dick. “ I believe 
there is nothing in the world that makes Aunt 
Lucy quite so happy as taking care of sick people.” 

Mrs. Norris laughed, and then with a sudden 
LofC. 


ICO 


ONLY DOLLIE 


impulse, she drew Dollie to her, and kissed her, al- 
most as tenderly as if she had been one of her own 
little girls. 

“Good night, dear,” she said; “come and see 
us as often as you can, and be careful not to get 
your feet wet while you have that cough.” 

Dick accompanied Dollie across the street, and 
did not leave her until Sarah had opened the Fos- 
ters’ front door. Then he went home again, 
thinking how strange it was that happiness could 
so transform even the plainest faces ; he had never 
thought Dollie pretty until the moment when his 
aunt had kissed her. 

Fortunately for Dollie, Mrs. Foster had not yet 
come in, so she was not scolded for being late, and 
she went about, preparing the children’s supper, 
with such a radiant expression on her face, that 
even the cook noticed it, and asked her what she 
had been doing with herself to make her look so 
happy. 

“ I’ve been having the most beautiful after- 
noon,” said Dollie, smiling a little dreamily as 
she spoke; “ I think it was something like being 
in Heaven.” 

The cook laughed. 

“ Well, you are a queer young one,” she said. 



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VISITING 


lOI 


not unkindly. “ What did they do for you to 
make it so beautiful ? ” she added, with natural 
curiosity. 

Oh/' said Dollie, it wasn't so much what 
they did, but the way they did it. They were so 
kind all of them, and Mrs. Norris kissed me. And 
— oh, I can't talk about it, it was so beautiful." 
And, to the cook's utter astonishment, Dollie's 
sentence ended in a burst of tears. 

She was not by any means an unkind woman, 
but she was wholly unaccustomed to nervous, 
high-strung people: She decided that the child 
was over-tired, and she patted her on the back, 
telling her not to be silly, and offered her a cookie, 
by way of consolation. 

Dollie could not have told herself why she had 
cried when she was so happy, but she was con- 
scious of a sudden longing for something, she did 
not know what. Perhaps it was for a little of the 
mother-love she had seen shining in Mrs. Norris's 
eyes, when she had bent down to kiss Amy. 

A very unusual thing happened that evening; 
Mr. Foster reached home before his wife. He 
was a very busy man, and seldom came in until 
dinner time, and sometimes not until the family 
were already seated at the table. It was against 


102 


ONLY DOLLIE 


Mrs. Foster’s principles to wait for anyone, she 
said, and her husband never complained, but ate 
his cold dinner without a murmur. But on this 
particular evening Dollie heard his key in the 
front door, while she was still giving the children 
their tea, and a moment later he came into the 
nursery. Dollie saw at the first glance that he 
looked pale and tired. 

Mr. Foster never took very much notice of 
Ralph and Tootie, who, on their part, regarded 
him with' calm indifference, so that his entrance 
made no unusual excitement in the nursery, and 
the two children went on eating their bread and 
milk quite undisturbed by their step-father’s pres- 
ence. But Dollie kissed him affectionately, 
and having installed him in the big rocker 
by the fire, she perched herself on his knee, 
just as she used to do long ago, before Aunt Ger- 
trude died. 

“ It’s just lovely to have you come home so 
early. Uncle Frank,” she said, nestling her head 
comfortably against his shoulder ; “ it seems so 
like old times, and it makes such a nice ending for 
the day. O, Uncle Frank, I’ve had such a beauti- 
ful time ! ” And she gave him an account of her 
afternoon’s amusements. 


VISITING 


103 

Mr. Foster listened with evident interest, and 
his face brightened as Dollie went on with her 
story. When she had finished he patted her head, 
and smiled, as she had not seen him smile in a 
long time. 

‘‘ I am glad you have made such nice little 
friends,” he said, in a tone of evident relief. “ It 
won’t make it so hard for me to leave you for a 
little while, now that I know you have a pleasant 
home to visit sometimes while I am away.” 

While you are away ! — oh. Uncle Frank, what 
do you mean ? ” 

All the brightness had died out of Dollie’s face ; 
she looked even a little frightened. Mr. Foster 
began to look distressed again. 

“ I’m afraid I must go for a little while,” he 
said, sorrowfully, ‘‘ but you mustn’t be distressed 
about it, it will only be for a few weeks; I shall 
hope to be back by the first of the year, if not 
before.” 

It seemed to Dollie as if something cold and 
hard were settling down on her heart, that only a 
moment before had been beating with such joyful 
recollections. She said nothing, but she had 
grown a little pale, and looked at her uncle with 
big, troubled eyes. 


104 


ONLY DOLLIE 


It really isn’t anything to fret about,” said 
Mr. Foster, rather impatiently. The gaze of 
those big, solemn, brown eyes made him vaguely 
uncomfortable. “ I am only going to Chicago 
on business. It is really an excellent opportunity 
for me; I hope to make a good deal of money 
out of it.” 

“ And it will only be for a few weeks — you 
are quite sure it won’t be any longer than that ? ” 
Dollie questioned, winking hard to keep back the 
tears, and making a brave effort to speak cheer- 
fully. 

“ Only a very few weeks. I shall try to get 
back in time for Christmas if I can, but even if I 
can’t do that, I shall be here by New Year’s. And 
in the meantime you will be busy and happy. I 
shall ask Mrs. Foster to let you see a good deal of 
these little Norris girls while I am away, and 
when I come back I have fully made up my mind 
that you shall go to school.” 

‘‘ Really, Uncle Frank — you really and truly 
mean it? ” 

‘‘Yes, really and truly. I have been thinking 
things over very seriously, Dollie, and I have 
made up my mind. I promised your Aunt Ger- 
trude that I would always take care of you, and I 


VISITING 


105 

intend to keep my word. Your education must 
not be neglected any longer.’' 

But how about the children ? ” 

We must have a nurse. It will be an extra 
expense, I know, but I think I can manage it. We 
won’t say anything to your Aunt Kate — I mean 
Mrs. Foster — ^just yet, but I have fully made up 
my mind.” 

Dollie’s face — which had brightened for a mo- 
ment — clouded again at Mr. Foster’s last words, 
but before she could say anything more on the 
subject, a diversion was caused by Tootie, who 
succeeded in spilling her glass of milk over the 
table and her own dress. Dollie flew to repair 
the mischief as well as she could, and in the midst 
of the confusion Mrs. Foster came in, and scolded 
everybody all round, including her husband, who 
speedily made his escape from the nursery, leaving 
the others to settle their difficulties without him. 

Dollie cried herself to sleep that night, in spite 
of the fact that her uncle’s good-night kiss had 
been unusually tender, and his parting words a 
repetition of his promise that, just as soon as the 
Christmas Holidays were over, she should surely 
go to school. But the Christmas holidays were 
nearly three weeks off, and in the meantime Uncle 


io6 


ONLY DOLLIE 


Frank was going away, and she was to be left 
entirely to the tender mercies of Mrs. Foster. 
Who could tell what might happen before those 
dreadful weeks were over? Uncle Frank had 
said he had made up his mind, but Mrs. Foster 
was not to be told just yet. And well did Dollie 
know that it was Mrs. Foster whose will was law 
in that house. 


CHAPTER VI 


STOLEN SWEETS 

THY, Dollie, who in the world has 
V Y writing to you ? ” exclaimed 

Flora one Saturday morning, about 
ten days later, as Sarah handed round the family 
mail at the breakfast table. “ I never knew you 
to get a letter since Fve been here.” 

I’m sure I don’t know,” said Dollie, staring 
in puzzled surprise at the unopened envelope, ad- 
dressed to Miss Dorothy Foster, which Sarah had 
laid beside her plate. 

“ Let me see it,’’ said Mrs. Foster, rather 
sharply, glancing up from her own letter, and 
holding out her hand for Dollie’s. “ Why, it looks 
like an invitation.” 

It is an invitation,” announced Flora, and 
I’ve got one just like it. It’s from the Norrises, 
for their Christmas Tree,” and she read aloud — 
The Misses Norris request the pleasure of 
107 


io8 


ONLY DOLLIE 


Miss Flora Rogers' company on Friday, Decem- 
ber Twenty-Fourth j from seven till ten." 

Oh, isn’t that just splendid? Annie May has 
been to two of the Norrises’ Christmas Trees, and 
she says they’re fine, and everybody gets a lovely 
present. Wasn’t it kind of them to think of ask- 
ing Dollie, too? ’’ 

“ I must say, I think it was rather unnecessary,’’ 
returned Mrs. Foster crossly. She had already 
opened Dollie’s note, and glanced at the contents. 
“ You needn’t trouble to answer this yourself, 
Dollie; I will write a regret for you. Your hand- 
writing is really too disgraceful for a girl of your 
age.’’ 

‘‘ Why, Aunt Kate, aren’t you going to let 
Dollie accept ? ’’ cried Flora in genuine dismay. 
Dollie said nothing; she was striving with all her 
might to choke down her anger and disappoint- 
ment. 

“ Certainly not,’’ said Mrs. Foster, with unmis- 
takable decision. 

''But why not?’’ persisted Flora; "I’m sure 
the Norrises will think it awfully queer.’’ 

" In the first place because she hasn’t anything 
decent to wear. In the second place, because I 
think it was extremely out of place in the Nor- 
rises to ask her. This note is addressed to Miss 


STOLEN SWEETS 


109 

Dorothy Foster — I thought I told you, Dollie, 
that you were never again to tell people your name 
was Foster/’ 

I didn’t tell any one,” said Dollie, sullenly. 
She did not look at Mrs. Foster as she spoke; her 
eyes were bent steadily on the plate of oatmeal 
porridge before her. 

‘^Nonsense! I don’t believe it. How would 
they have happened to address the letter to Miss 
Dorothy Foster, if some one had not told them 
that was your name? ” 

“ Perhaps they didn’t know what other name 
to use,” Flora suggested, good-naturedly. Oh, 
Aunt Kate, do let her go just this once. She 
hardly ever has any fun, and she might wear that 
old white dress of mine. It would be too long in 
the skirt, but I’m sure it could easily be made to 
fit her, and I really don’t need it; I’ve got so 
many.” 

Dollie’s face brightened, and she gave Flora 
a very grateful glance, indeed, but Mrs. Foster 
was obdurate. 

‘‘You are very kind and generous. Flora dear,” 
she said, approvingly, “ but I shall have no time 
to make over an entire dress before Christmas, 
and I certainly have no intention of sending it to 
a dressmaker. Besides, it would not be at all 


no 


ONLY DOLLIE 


proper for Dollie to go to parties with you. I 
am sure the Norrises have never been made to 
understand her real position! she has probably 
misrepresented things.” 

I never — ” began Dollie, but Mrs. Foster cut 
her short. 

You needn’t explain I I don’t care to hear 
what you never said, or what you did say, either ; 
I haven’t time to waste over such trifles. Look 
out for Tootie, she’s spilling her porridge all 
over her bib.” 

But burning indignation at the injustice of it 
all, had for the moment driven away every other 
consideration, for, strange to say, Dollie actually 
forgot to be afraid of Mrs. Foster. 

“ When Aunt Gertrude was alive, I always 
went wherever I was invited,” she said in a clear, 
steady, little voice ; no one ever talked about 
my position then.” 

Mrs. Foster’s brow darkened; she was not fond 
of hearing her husband’s first wife mentioned. 

“ If one woman chose to make a fool of herself, 
that is no reason why every one should be ex- 
pected to follow in her footsteps,” she said, coldly. 
“ Your name is not Foster,' and you are no rela- 
tion whatever to any of us ; there is not the slight- 
est reason why you should expect to be treated 


STOLEN SWEETS 


III 


like one of the family. You ought to be very 
grateful for all your blessings, instead of com- 
plaining because there are some things it is not 
proper for you to expect. Now, don’t let me hear 
another word on the subject; you shall be sent up- 
stairs without any breakfast if you speak again.” 

Dollie swallowed the angry retort that was on 
the tip of her tongue, and shut her lips tight, but 
there was a look on her face, which might have 
made Mrs. Foster uncomfortable if she had not 
been too much absorbed in her letters to notice 
it. Flora did notice it, and in her heart she sym- 
pathized with Dollie more than she had ever done 
before. 

Not another word was said on the subject of 
the Norrises’ Christmas party until the family had 
left the breakfast table, and Mrs. Foster had gone 
down to the kitchen to attend to the Saturday 
ordering. Then Flora said, as the two girls went 
upstairs together — Ralph and Tootie having lin- 
gered in the pantry with Sarah — 

“ What are you going to do this morning, 
Dollie?” 

I don’t know,” said Dollie, shortly; “ take the 
children out, I suppose.” 

I wish you could come with me,” said Flora, 
kindly. Fm going Christmas shopping. My 


II2 


ONLY DOLLIE 


father sent me ten dollars the other day to buy 
Christmas presents with, and I want to get some- 
thing for everybody. Don’t you think you could 
manage to leave the children for once, and come 
along with me? ” 

“ Your aunt wouldn’t let me.” 

“ I’ll tell you what,” said Flora, with a sudden 
inspiration, “ Aunt Kate’s going out early this 
morning, I heard her say so. Let’s wait till she’s 
gone, and then ask Sarah to look after the chil- 
dren. She’ll do it. I’m sure, she’s so good- 
natured, and we can do all our shopping, and be 
back again before Aunt Kate — she need never 
know a single word about it.” 

We can tell her when we come in, and then if 
she scolds it won’t matter,” said Dollie, slowly. 

She always scolds, no matter what I do, so 
there’s no use in trying to please her.” 

Flora’s blue eyes opened rather wide; this was 
a new doctrine from faithful Dollie. 

“ She does scold a good deal,” she admitted, 
“ but I don’t suppose she really means it all. I’m 
awfully sorry about the Christmas Tree; I think 
she might have let you go.” 

“ If Uncle Frank had been at home, she would 
have let me go,” said Dollie, “ but then I suppose 
she would have made a dreadful fuss, and he 


STOLEN SWEETS 


113 

would have been unhappy. Oh, well, it doesn't 
matter; Fve got to mind her now, but I shall get 
even with her some day.” 

“ Now I wonder what she meant by that,” solilo- 
quized Flora, as she watched the little figure dis- 
appear round the bend in the stairs. “I don't 
suppose she would really do anything dreadful, 
but she did look awfully queer at the breakfast 
table; she must have a dreadful temper.” 

Dollie went slowly on up the stairs to her own 
little room on the third floor. She shut the door, 
and sat down on the edge of the bed. She did 
not cry, but she clenched her hands tight, and 
gave two or three quick, convulsive sobs. There 
was a choking sensation in her throat, and her 
poor little heart was almost bursting with pent up 
anger. It was not the first time that she had been 
told by Mrs. Foster that she had no right to the 
name she had been called by all her life — that she 
had no claim upon the family, and was only a 
little drudge, clothed and fed for pure charity's 
sake. She had known all that for years, ever 
since one dreadful, dreadful day, only a few weeks 
after Uncle Frank and Mrs. Foster were married, 
when she had refused to amuse Ralph, because 
she wanted to finish a new story book. How well 
she remembered it all. She had not been the 


ONLY DOLLIE 


114 

docile, hard-worked little drudge in those days. 
She had been petted all her life, and since Aunt 
Gertrude’s death Uncle Frank had spoiled her 
sadly. How astonished she had been when Mrs. 
Foster, without one single coaxing word, had sud- 
denly pounced upon her, and snatching the book 
out of her hands, had rapped her knuckles sharply 
with the cover, and told her she was not to touch 
that book again for a week, as a punishment for 
being so disobliging, and that, if she did not go 
and play with Ralph that very moment, she should 
be whipped. Dollie — who had never been 
whipped in her life — had simply stared for a mo- 
ment, and then remarked slowly, in a tone of 
decided conviction, — 

“ You are a very bad woman; I shall tell Uncle 
Frank about you.” 

She had received another rap on the knuckles 
for being impertinent, and when she went to Uncle 
Frank with her complaint, Mrs. Foster went with 
her, and her account of the affair was so very dif- 
ferent from Dollie’s, that poor Mr. Foster had 
stared from one to the other, in helpless bewilder- 
ment, and ended by telling Dollie he was afraid 
she had been a very naughty little girl, and that 
she must remember always to obey her new auntie 
in everything. 


STOLEN SWEETS 


That had been the first of many battles, in all 
of which Mrs. Foster had come off victorious. 
How could it be otherwise? She was so strong 
and determined, and Dollie was completely in her 
power. But all that had happened nearly two years 
ago, and it was a long time now since Dollie had 
had what Mrs. Foster called “ one of her tan- 
trums.” But if she could have looked into Dol- 
lie’s heart that morning, she might not have been 
so sure that she has entirely cured '' that child's 
sullen, disagreeable temper.” 

In a few minutes Dollie got up and began to 
make her bed. She was expected, among her 
other numerous duties, to keep her own room in 
perfect order. Once, when passing near the win- 
dow she happened to catch a glimpse of Maud 
Norris, standing at her own window, just oppo- 
site. The eyes of the two little girls met, and 
Maud smiled and nodded pleasantly. Somehow 
that bright, friendly glance did Dollie good. The 
hard lines about her mouth softened a little, 
and she found herself beginning to think 
about her shopping expedition with Flora. 
How kind it was of Flora to ask her to go 
with her, and Flora had actually offered to 
give her one of her own pretty dresses. How for- 
tunate it was there were some kind people in the 


ii6 


ONLY DOLLIE 


world — it would be dreadful if everyone was like 
Mrs. Foster. 

Thinking about Christmas shopping gave Dol- 
lie a new idea, why should she not do a little shop- 
ping on her own account? She had very little 
money, to be sure, but there were still the remains 
of the two dollars Uncle Frank had given her on 
her birthday. She had not bought the hair rib- 
bons after all, never having had an opportunity. 
Why should she not buy a little Christmas present 
for every one as well as Flora ? They would have 
to be very little things, of course, but they would 
be better than nothing, and would show people 
she had not forgotten them. Sarah and the cook 
had both been kind; Sarah might like a needle 
book, and she had heard the cook express a wish 
for a new emery bag. Then there were the chil- 
dren and Flora; she might get some trifling re- 
membrances for them, too. And Uncle Frank, 
he always liked a tiny pin cushion to carry in his 
pocket. She had just one dollar and ten cents, 
she remembered; a good deal might be bought 
with one dollar and ten cents if one thought 
very carefully beforehand, and was not ex- 
travagant. 

It was a new idea, and a very pleasant one. 
Before Aunt Gertrude died she had always had 


STOLEN SWEETS 


117 

money with which to buy Christmas presents for 
her friends. Flora was so kind, she would surely 
help her in her selection, and perhaps give some 
useful advice. She went to her bureau drawer, 
and took out her purse, but what was the matter ? 
Why did it feel so light? She opened it hur- 
riedly, and looked inside, it was quite empty. 

She stood still for a moment, turning the little 
purse over and over, with an expression of grow- 
ing bewilderment on her face. 

What did it mean? Someone had taken her 
money — her precious dollar and ten cents — ^but 
who? Not Sarah or the cook, she was sure; not 
Flora or Ralph or Tootie, but who? 

At last she opened the door, and still holding 
the empty purse in her hand, went slowly across 
the hall to Flora’s room. Flora was busy dressing 
to go out. 

“ Flora,” said Dollie, the expression of bewil- 
derment still on her face, do you know who has 
taken my money? ” 

“ Your money, good gracious, no ! You haven’t 
lost any, have you ? ” 

“ Yes, my money, my dollar and ten cents, I 
wanted to buy Christmas presents with. It was 
in my top drawer, but it’s all gone; some one 
must have taken it.” 


ii8 


ONLY DOLLIE 


Tm sure I don’t know,” began Flora. Oh, 
yes, I do, too,” she added, with a sudden recol- 
lection ; “ Aunt Kate took it the other day. She 
wanted some change to pay some one at the door, 
and she came up here, and asked me if I had any. 
I hadn’t, and at first she said she was going to 
ask Sarah, but then she went into your room, 
and I heard her say, ‘ Oh, it’s all right ; I’ve found 
some.’ She must have borrowed it, and forgotten 
to tell you, but of course she means to pay it back. 
You’d better ask her for it before she goes out, 
and you can get your things with me this morn- 
ing.” 

Dollie said nothing, but she turned and walked 
resolutely down stairs. Mrs. Foster was standing 
before her bureau, pinning on her bonnet. 

“ Mrs. Foster,” said Dollie, pausing in the door- 
way, and speaking with some hesitation, ‘‘ did 
you take some money out of my drawer the other 
day?” 

Mrs. Foster turned with a start, and an expres- 
sion of decided annoyance. 

“ What money are you talking about ? ” she de- 
manded sharply. 

“ The dollar and ten cents that were in my 
purse ; Flora said she thought you borrowed it to 
pay a bill.” 


STOLEN SWEETS 


119 

“ So I did, I had forgotten about it. I will give 
it back to you sometime, there’s no hurry.” 

Mrs. Foster was putting on her gloves now. 
She had an engagement to keep, and she had no 
intention of wasting time. Dollie remained stand- 
ing in the same spot near the door. 

‘‘ What are you waiting for ? ” inquired Mrs. 
Foster, in a tone of annoyance. 

I should like the money very much, indeed, 
this morning.” 

“ Well, you won’t get it. In the first place, I 
haven’t got it, and in the second place, I wouldn’t 
give it to you if I had. You can ask Mr. Foster 
for it when he comes home. It was to pay a bill 
of his I took it; he had no business to leave 
me with so little ready money in the house 
when he went away. Now let me pass. I’m in a 
hurry.” 

Dollie was silent; she moved aside to let Mrs. 
Foster pass, and then she stood quite still in the 
same spot until she heard the front door shut. 

Flora was buttoning her jacket when she heard 
Dollie coming slowly upstairs again. 

“ Hurry up, Dollie,” she called cheerfully; “ get 
your things on as quick as you can. She’s gone, 
and if we hurry we may be back before she is, and 
then she’ll never know.” 


120 


ONLY DOLLIE 


“ I’ve changed my mind, I’m not going,” said 
Dollie from the hall. 

“Not going? Why not? Oh, wouldn’t she 
give you the money ? ” and Flora’s eager face ap- 
peared in the open doorway. 

“ No,” said Dollie, shortly. 

“ What a shame, but never mind ; I’ll lend you 
some of mine, and you can pay me when you get 
it back.” 

But Dollie was obdurate. 

“ It really is a shame the way Aunt Kate treats 
poor Dollie,” said Flora to herself, as she ran 
down the front steps five minutes later. “ If she 
wasn’t so awfully kind to me, I think I should al- 
most hate her. Dollie is a queer little thing, and 
I shouldn’t like to have her look at me the way 
she looked at Aunt Kate this morning. Now 
what shall I do? I guess I’ll just run in and see 
if Maud Norris wouldn’t like to come down town 
with me.” 

It was nearly lunch time when Mrs. Foster re- 
turned, tired, flurried and crosser than ever. Dol- 
lie had passed a rather uncomfortable morning 
with Ralph and Tootie, who both had colds, and 
were consequently kept in the house, as the day 
was chilly and damp. Staying in doors never 
agreed very well with their tempers, and the quar- 


STOLEN SWEETS 


121 


rels had been more numerous than usual, until 
Tootie had at last fairly cried herself to sleep on 
Dollie’s lap. From her window Dollie had seen 
Flora and Maud Norris starting on their shopping 
expedition, and as may be supposed, the sight had 
not tended to raise her spirits. 

“ You never was so cross before, Dollie,” Ralph 
had remarked in a tone of plaintive surprise ; and 
perhaps Ralph was right. 

Mrs. Foster’s return caused a break in the 
morning’s monotony. 

Dollie,” she said, coming hurriedly into the 
nursery, “ I want you to put your things right on, 
and go to Mrs. Jennings’ with a piece of silk I’ve 
bought to match that dress she’s making over for 
me. Tell her I must have the dress by the first of 
the week. Now hurry along and don’t dawdle; 
I’ll save some lunch for you, and you can have it 
when you get back.” 

Dollie rose, and went upstairs obediently for 
her hat and jacket. On the way down again she 
met Flora, who had just come in, laden with par- 
cels. 

‘‘ Oh, we’ve had such a nice morning,” began 
that young lady, enthusiastically ; “ come up, and 
I’ll show you what I bought. Why, you’re not 
going out, are you? It’s just lunch time.” 


122 


ONLY DOLLIE 


“ Your aunt wants me to take a parcel to the 
dressmaker’s.” 

“ Well, I think she might wait till you’d had 
your lunch,” grumbled Flora. “ You hardly 
ate any breakfast, and I’m sure you must be 
hungry.” 

“ Are you coming, Dollie,” called Mrs. Foster’s 
voice from the foot of the stairs. “ I can’t wait 
all day ; I told you I was in a hurry.” 

It was fully half a mile to Mrs. Jennings, but 
Mrs. Foster — who did not approve of wasting 
pennies — had said nothing about car fare, so Dol- 
lie walked. She reached her destination, climbing 
the four flights of stairs to Mrs. Jennings’ flat, 
and rang the door bell. Mrs. Jennings herself 
opened the door, and asked her to come in and 
rest. 

You’re looking real tired,” she said, kindly, 
as she took the parcel from Dollie’s hand. 
“ Wouldn’t you like to see the baby? He’s just 
awake from his nap, and he’s so cunning.” 

Dollie feared it would be rude to decline, so she 
went in, and duly admired Mrs. Jennings’ ten 
months old baby. She also made the acquaintance 
of the two older Jennings children, little girls of 
about the ages of Ralph and Tootie. 

“ Tell Miss Dollie what a lovely time we’re all 


STOLEN SWEETS 


123 


going to have on Christmas/’ said Mrs. Jennings 
to the eldest child. 

“ We’s going to have a Christmas Tree,” an- 
nounced the little thing, joyfully, ‘‘and mammy’s 
going to put candles on it, and pappie’s going to 
bring lots of candy, and we’s going to hang up 
our stockings.” And overcome by the delightful 
prospect, the child began capering about the room, 
uttering little squeals of delight. 

“ They’re just crazy about Christmas,” Mrs. 
Jennings explained, following Dollie to the door. 
“ Nellie’s been asking me how many more days 
she’ll have to wait, ever since the first of Decem- 
ber, and they really can hardly sleep at night for 
thinking about it.” 

“ Everyone is thinking about Christmas,” said 
Dollie to herself, as she trudged wearily home- 
ward ; “ every one is going to have a nice time 
except me. It isn’t fair — oh, it isn’t fair.” 

She walked slowly, for she did not feel very 
hungry, and she was in no hurry to get back to the 
sound of Mrs. Foster’s sharp voice, and Ralph 
and Tootie’s fretful whining. She could not help 
thinking how pleasant it would be if she never 
need go back at all, but could be carried away 
somewhere where she would never see any of them 
again. Next moment, however, her conscience 


124 


ONLY DOLLIE 


smote her, for, after all, she did love Ralph and 
Tootie, and then Uncle Frank was coming home 
soon. 

She had reached her own corner, and was wait- 
ing for a good opportunity to cross the street, 
when she caught sight of two familiar figures ap- 
proaching in her direction. They were Dick 
Marston and his cousin Amy Norris. Dollie's 
first impulse was to turn her head in another way, 
and in the hope that they might pass without 
recognizing her. She did not feel in a mood for 
being questioned just then, and she had not seen 
Dick or Amy since that happy afternoon, now 
more than ten days ago, when she had paid her 
one and only visit to Number Thirty-six. But 
Amy’s friendly nod and smile told that the recog- 
nition had been mutual, and in another moment 
they were all three standing together on the side- 
walk. 

“ Why did you never come to see me again ? ” 
was Amy’s first question. I expected you every 
day, and I was laid up for nearly a week.” 

Dollie’s eyes dropped, and the color rose in her 
cheeks. She did not like to explain that Mrs. 
Foster had peremptorily refused on the one occa- 
sion when she had gathered sufficient courage to 
ask if she might repeat her visit. Dick noticed 


STOLEN SWEETS 


“5 


her embarassment, and, with kindly tact, hastened 
to change the subject. 

“ Amy and I are going to the theatre,” he said, 
pleasantly; “ we are going to see ' The Little Min- 
ister,’ have you seen it ? ” 

“ No,” said Dollie, “ I never go to the theatre. 
Fm so glad you’re better,” she added rather 
sharply, turning to Amy. 

Oh, Fm all right again ; Fve been to school 
for two days. Dick is awfully good to take me to 
the theatre this afternoon. Maud saw the play 
last Saturday, with some girls. I was invited, 
but of course I couldn’t go on account of my foot. 
Maud says, ‘ The Little Minister ’ is the loveliest 
play she ever saw. I wish you were going with 
us.” 

“ I say,” exclaimed Dick, yielding to a sudden 
impulse, called forth by the sight of Dollie’s pale, 
wistful little face, why can’t you come with us ? 
Fm going to get the tickets at the door, and I 
can get three just as well as two. Come on, and 
we’ll all have a jolly time together.” 

Oh, the look of sudden radiance that lit up 
the pale little face! Dick felt repaid for his im- 
pulse a thousand fold. 

“ Do you really mean it,” Dolly asked, raising 
her big brown eyes to Dick’s face, with a look in 


126 


ONLY DOLLIE 


them that reminded him of a look he had once seen 
in the eyes of a half-starved kitten he had fed. 

Mean it ? Of course I do. Come right 
along; it’s getting late, and we haven’t much time 
to spare.” 

For one moment Dollie hesitated, while the 
probable results of such a daring proceeding 
rushed through her mind. But it was only for a 
moment. After all, what did a little scolding 
more or less, matter, and even if Mrs. Foster were 
frightened at her not coming home — well, it 
would serve her right for being so unkind. So 
Dollie argued, and almost before she realized 
what was happening, Dick had hailed a car, they 
all three got in, and were being whirled rapidly 
away in the direction of the busy, noisy down- 
town districts. 

Amy was delighted, and chatted away, happily 
unconscious of there being anything unusual in 
the proceedings. Dick was not quite so blind to 
possible consequences, but he argued that, since 
Dollie had accepted his invitation, it surely was 
not his place to question her on the subject. 

Arrived at the theatre, they were fortunate in 
securing three good seats near the stage, and as 
they were a little late, they had only just taken 
their places when the curtain rose. 


STOLEN SWEETS 


127 


How Dollie did enjoy that play ! She had been 
to the theatre before, but only two or three times, 
and then it had been to see pantomimes or fairy 
pieces abroad. Since Aunt Gertrude died there 
had been no talk of any such dissipation for the 
little girl. From the moment the curtain first 
rose on the pretty rural scene to the moment when 
it fell for the last time on Babbie and The Little 
Minister in their cottage, Dollie had eyes and ears 
for nothing off the stage. She forgot Mrs. Foster 
— forgot that she had eaten nothing since break- 
fast — forgot that there was any such thing as 
injustice in the world. Between the acts she was 
almost too interested and excited to talk, but sat 
with her eyes on the curtain, waiting in breathless 
impatience for it to rise again. Her compaions 
watched her with amusement. Going to the thea- 
tre was no such novelty to them, but it was pleas- 
ant to see anyone having such a thoroughly good 
time, and Dick congratulated himself more than 
once on the kindly impulse which had prompted 
him to ask Dollie to go with them, even if the buy- 
ing of an extra seat did make a rather larger hole 
than he had bargained for in his month’s pocket 
money. 

It was over at last; they had made their way 
through the crowd, out into the cold wintry streets 


128 


ONLY DOLLIE 


again, and were on their way home. Then all at 
once Dollie grew very pale and silent. 

“ Are you tired, Dollie,” Dick asked kindly, 
noticing that Dollie lagged a little behind her com- 
panions, and that her eyes had a troubled look in 
them. 

Yes, a little.” 

“We’ll walk slower, then, there’s no hurry; 
you enjoyed the play, though, didn’t you? ” 

“Oh, so much.” But there was a quiver in 
Dqllie’s voice, and Dick saw the tears gathering in 
her eyes. 

Dick made no remark on the subject, however, 
but kept the child beside him, talking pleasantly 
about the play, and other ordinary matters, until 
they reached their own door. Then, telling Amy 
to run in by herself, he crossed the street with 
Dollie, intending to go up the steps and ring the 
bell for her, but at the foot of the Foster’s front 
steps the last vestige of Dollie’s courage melted 
away. 

“ I can’t go in. I’m afraid,” she gasped drawing 
back, and turning so white that for the moment 
Dick was fairly frightened. 

“Can’t go in? Why not? What do you 
mean ? ” he inquired, anxiously. 

“ Oh,” cried Dollie piteously, beginning ' > 



What monea" akb aou talking about?” 

Page 128 


SHE DEMANDED SHAKPLY 



1 





I* 

i 

t 



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9 


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STOLEN SWEETS 


1 29 

tremble, “ I’m afraid. Mrs. Foster will be so angry, 
she’ll never forgive me. She told me to come 
right back from the dressmaker’s.” 

Dick gave vent to a long, low whistle of dis- 
may. 

So, that’s it,” he said. Well, Dollie, I really 
don’t see what we can do about it. Suppose I go 
in with you and explain to Mrs. Foster that it was 
my fault. It really was my fault, you know; I 
ought to have let you go home first, and tell them 
what you were going to do.” 

“ She wouldn’t have let me go if I had,” said 
Dollie, with mournful conviction. “ That’s why 
I was so glad when you said it was late, and we 
must hurry. I ought not to have said yes, I 
know I ought not, but I did want a little fun, and 
it didn’t seem fair that I should never have any 
good times.” 

It isn’t fair,” declared Dick, indignantly. 
“ I’m glad you went, and you shan’t be scolded 
for it either if I can help it. Don’t you sup- 
pose I might be able to soften Mrs. Foster’s heart 
if I were to try very hard ? ” 

Dollie shook her head doubtfully. 

She says you’re a very nice young man, and 
she was awfully pleased because you asked Flora 
to dance the German at the May’s party. But I 


130 


ONLY DOLLIE 


don’t think it would make any difference about her 
punishing me even if you did ask her. I wouldn’t 
mind if she only scolded, but she won’t let me 
have any dinner, and then I shall have such a 
dreadful headache; I always do when I have to go 
without dinner, and I shall be ill to-morrow, and 
oh, it will be so dreadful ! ” And the poor child 
shuddered convulsively. 

Dick’s eyes flashed, and he felt his blood boil 
with indignation. He was silent for a moment, 
thinking busily; then a bright idea struck him. 

“ I’ll tell you what we’ll do, Dollie,” he said, 
“ you shall come home with me, and we’ll get 
Aunt Lucy to write Mrs. Foster a note, explain- 
ing things. Aunt Lucy will make everything 
right, she always does.” 

But Dollie still wavered. 

“ I don’t like to go,” she faltered, timidly ; 

your aunt will think me so horrid, and I don’t 
want her to know about it. She was so kind, and 
oh, I did want her to like me just a little.” 

“ So she will, and more than a little, too,” per- 
sisted Dick cheerfully. “ Come along, and don’t 
be a little goose. Why, nobody in the world was 
ever afraid of Aunt Lucy. Besides, I got you 
into this scrape, and it’s my business to see you get 
out of it all right.” 


STOLEN SWEETS 


131 

He took her hand firmly in his, as he spoke, and 
poor little Dollie no longer held back. They 
crossed the street in silence, and Dick opened the 
door with his latch key. He would have taken 
her straight up to his aunt’s room, but that was 
more than Dollie had bargained for, and seeing her 
evident distress, he finally yielded to her entreaties 
and left her curled up, a little disconsolate heap, 
in one corner of the parlor sofa. 

It was very still for a few moments after Dick 
had left her. Dollie heard his quick footsteps 
running upstairs, and his voice calling for Aunt 
Lucy. After that all was silent, except for the 
sound of distant voices. Dollie’s heart beat very 
fast indeed; she was more frightened than she 
could remember ever having been before. Would 
Mrs. Foster think her very wicked? Would she 
refuse to have anything to do with her ? She had 
been very wicked, she felt sure, to leave Ralph and 
Tootie for a whole afternoon, and never let any 
one know where she was going. Mrs. Foster 
would never forgive her, of course, and Flora 
would laugh at her, and when Uncle Frank came 
home he would be told, and then he would look 
so sorry. 

At last, after what seemed an age of suspense, 
but in reality at the end of five minutes, Dollie 


132 


ONLY DOLLIE 


heard approaching footsteps and the rustle of 
skirts. Some one was coming down stairs. Dol- 
lie dared not look up; she was afraid to move. 

“ Dollie, my dear little girl.’' 

At the sound of the kind voice, the touch of a 
gentle hand on her shoulder, Dollie looked up. 
One glance at the sweet, tender face, smiling 
down upon her, was enough to tell her she had 
nothing to fear. In another moment her arms 
were round Mrs. Norris’ neck, and she was sob- 
bing as if her heart would break. 

Mrs. Norris took in the whole situation at a 
glance, and her kind heart went out to the little 
motherless child then and there. She sat down on 
the sofa, gathered Dollie into her arms, and 
soothed and comforted her as if she had been one 
of her own little daughters. 

My poor little girl, don’t cry so. There is 
nothing to be frightened about. Won’t you tell 
me what it is that troubles you? ” 

“ Oh, I’ve been so bad,” sobbed Dollie, hysteri- 
cally; “ I knew it was wrong to go to the theatre 
without asking, but it didn’t seem fair that I never 
had any fun, and Mr. Marston asked me, and was 
so kind, and now I’m afraid to go home. Mrs. 
Foster will be so terribly angry, and Uncle Frank 


STOLEN SWEETS 


133 


isn't there, and — oh, dear! oh dear! what shall I 
do?" 

“ My dear little girl," said Mrs. Norris, ten- 
derly, wiping away Dollie's tears with her own 
soft handkerchief ; ‘‘ I am very, very sorry for 
you, but I don’t believe things are quite as bad 
as you imagine ; I am sure Mrs. Foster will under- 
stand when we explain everything to her. It 
wasn’t quite right to go to the theatre without let- 
ting your friends know where you were going, but 
it was more Dick’s fault than yours; he is older 
than you, and ought to have found out more par- 
ticulars, but we all of us make mistakes some- 
times. Now listen to me, Dollie, and I will tell 
you something. I am going home with you my- 
self, and I shall ask Mrs. Foster not to scold you 
this time, and explain to her just what happened. 
Dick is so distressed at the thought of having 
been the means of getting you into trouble, and I 
have promised to do all I can to help you both. 
Now dry your eyes like a sensible little girl, and 
come with me. I don’t like to keep you out any 
longer, for it’s getting dark, and I am afraid they 
may be worried about you.” 

“ Oh, how good you are ! how good you are ! ’’ 
That was all Dollie could say, but the look she 


134 


ONLY DOLLIE 


gave Mrs. Norris said more than any words could 
have done, and caused the good lady’s heart to 
ache for many a day whenever she thought of it. 

“Is Mrs. Foster at home?” 

They were standing on the Foster’s front steps, 
and Mrs. Norris asked the question of Sarah, 
who had just opened the door. 

“ Yes, ma’am,” said Sarah, her eyes resting, 
not upon the visitor, but upon Dollie, who, pale 
and trembling, shrank as much as possible into 
the background, though still clinging tightly to 
Mrs. Norris’ hand. 

“ Will you please say to her that Mrs. Norris 
would like very much to see her for a moment ? ” 

“Yes, ma’am, certainly; will you please walk 
into the parlor? ” 

Mrs. Norris gave the little fingers an encourag- 
ing squeeze, as she drew Dollie down beside her 
on the parlor sofa. Neither of them spoke. It 
was only for a moment, and then there was a 
rustling of skirts, and Mrs. Foster herself en- 
tered the room, flushed, excited, but smiling a 
forced welcoming smile. 

“ My dear Mrs. Norris,” she began, effusively, 
clasping the visitor’s hand in hers, “ this is indeed 
kind; how can I thank you for bringing this 


STOLEN SWEETS 


135 


naughty child home. You have no idea what I 
have been through this afternoon.’' She did not 
look at Dollie as she spoke, but there was a tone 
in her voice, when she pronounced the words 
‘‘ naughty child,” that made the poor little culprit 
tremble more than ever. 

“ I am very sorry indeed,” said Mrs. Norris in 
her kind, gentle voice, and moreover, I feel 
that I owe an apology, as it was all through the 
fault of my nephew that this trouble and anxiety 
came about.” 

‘‘Your nephew? indeed! I had no idea — ” 

“ Dick and my little Amy wgre on their way to 
a matinee when they happened to meet Dollie on 
the corner, and Dick asked her to go with them. 
It was rather late, and there was no time to send 
her back to ask your permission. It was very 
thoughtless on Dick’s part ; he ought to have real- 
ized that you would naturally be anxious when 
Dollie did not return as soon as you expected her. 
He feels very sorry about it, and begged me to 
come over with Dollie, and make his apologies.” 

“Foolish boy,” said Mrs. Foster, indulgently; 
“ Did he think I was such a stern dragon as to 
blame him. No, indeed! On the contrary, I 
think it was extremely kind of him to think of 
asking Dollie; it is she who was to blame in ac- 


136 


ONLY DOLLIE 


cepting the invitation, when she knew she was 
expected at home.” 

I know,” interposed Mrs. Norris, rather hur- 
riedly, admonished by an almost convulsive clutch 
from the little trembling fingers ; Dollie did 
wrong, but she is very sorry, and you know, we all 
make mistakes sometimes. The fault was really 
Dick’s, for he is much older than either of the 
others, and Mrs. Foster I want to ask you a great 
favor.” 

“ My dear Mrs. Norris, if there is anything I 
can do for you, I am sure I shall be only too 
happy.” 

“ I want to ask you, as a favor to me, not to 
scold Dollie this once ; she is very unhappy, and I 
am sure such a thing will never happen again.” 

Mrs. Foster’s face hardened a little, though she 
stiil smiled. For the first time she looked at 
Dollie. 

Go upstairs and take off your things, Dollie,” 
she said, coldly, and Dollie, who dare not disobey 
dropped Mrs. Norris’ hand and rose obediently. 

But before she left the room Mrs. Norris drew 
her to her side and kissed her. 

“ Good-bye, dear,” she said, kindly ; “ I will 
send you some more cough medicine. I am so 
glad it has done you so much good.” 


STOLEN 'SWEETS 


137 


Dollie went slowly upstairs, her heart still 
throbbing in big, frightened bounds. Outside the 
nursery door she encountered Sarah, who re- 
garded her with an expression that was half 
amused, half pitying. 

‘‘ Whatever made you stay out so long for ? ’’ 
she began, eagerly, drawing Dollie into the 
nursery, where Ralph and Tootie were busily en- 
gaged playing tea party.” Mrs. Foster's been 
making such a fuss the whole afternoon. She’s 
had her head out of the window most of the time, 
and I know she was frightened to death, though 
she wouldn’t say so. We was all pretty well 
scared, for that matter ; I thought you might have 
been run over by one of them electric cars, or 
something.” 

‘‘ I went to the theatre with Amy Norris and 
her cousin,” said Dollie, meekly. '' I’m sorry, 
you were all frightened.” 

“ Went to the theatre, well, I declare, and never 
said a word to any one about it. I guess you’ll 
catch it from Mrs. Foster, she’s pretty mad, I 
can tell you. What made you do it, without let- 
ting her know?” 

“ She wouldn’t have let me go if I had.” 

“ Well, I guess you’re about right there, and 
now that you’re back safe, I can’t say I am sorry 


ONLY DOLLIB 


you went. You never do have much fun, and that's 
the truth, but I’m afraid you’re going to have a 
bad time now.” 

But contrary to Sarah’s expectations, and to 
Dollie’s expectations, too, for that matter, she 
did not have a bad time. What Mrs. Norris said 
— how she succeeded in softening Mrs. Foster’s 
heart — Dollie never knew, but when the front 
door closed behind the visitor a few moments 
later, and Mrs. Foster came upstairs, instead of 
pouncing upon the poor little culprit, with a storm 
of indignant reproaches, as Dollie had fully ex- 
pected, she did not even utter one reproving word, 
but she bestowed upon Dollie, as she passed her in 
the hall, just one freezing glance, and then she 
went into her own room, and shut the door. 

Dollie went up to her own room, and cried 
uninterruptedly for the next half hour. Flora — 
who had been out all the afternoon, and conse- 
quently knew nothing about what had happened — 
came home, and Dollie heard her humming 
snatches of the latest popular song, as she dressed 
for dinner. At last Dollie dried her eyes, and 
went down stairs to give Ralph and Tootie their 
tea. Mrs. Foster was in the nursery, but she did 
not even look up from her sewing, when Dollie 
entered, and even when Ralph inquired rather 


STOLEN SWEETS 


139 


pathetically, if it wasn’t pretty near supper time, 
his mother did not inform him of the fact that 
it was nearly half an hour later than usual. 

Dollie went about her usual work with a very 
heavy heart. If Mrs. Foster had scolded, re- 
proached, or even punished her, she felt it would 
have been easier to bear. This strange, unusual 
silence, was worse than anything she had ever 
experienced before. Poor, kind-hearted Mrs. 
Norris ! She believed that when she had exacted 
the promise from her neighbor not to punish 
Dollie, that she had done the very best thing for 
the child, whereas ! if things had been left to take 
their natural course, the consequences would, in 
all probability, have been much less serious. Mrs. 
Foster would have flown into a rage, punished 
Dollie severely, and then in a few days forgotten 
the whole afYair. Now the very knowledge that 
her little drudge had friends sufficiently interested 
in her to take so much trouble in her behalf, made 
Mrs. Foster unreasonably angry, and she had 
never so thoroughly disliked the child as she did 
that night. 

The children were put to bed as usual, and 
Dollie went down to dinner, where her very pres- 
ence seemed to cast an unusual gloom over every- 
one and eva*y thing. Mrs. Foster scarcely spoke 


140 


ONLY DOLLIE 


during the meal, and even Flora was quiet, and 
kept stealing curious, amused glances at Dollie 
whenever she thought herself unobserved, for of 
course by this time Flora had heard all about the 
afternoon’s adventures, from her aunt. Dollie 
thought she was hungry, but a big lump seemed to 
rise in her throat every time she tried to swallow, 
and in the end she left the table without having 
eaten half as much as on ordinary occasions, when 
she had also had a hearty lunch in the middle of 
the day. 

As soon as she could, Dollie escaped, and went 
up to her own room where she spent a miserable 
evening, lying on her bed, and crying over her 
sins. At nine o’cloclc Flora came up to bed. 

“ May I come in Dollie? ” she said softly, put- 
ting her head in at Dollie’s half open door. 

“ Oh, yes, come in,” and Dollie lifted a flushed, 
tear wet face from the pillow. 

It was too dark for Flora to see the tears, but 
she heard the quiver in Dollie’s voice. 

What’s the matter,” she inquired, coming 
further into the room, and speaking in a cheer- 
ful, encouraging tone; “you haven’t been crying 
all this time, have you ? ” 

Dollie made no reply beyond a half suppressed 
sob. 


STOLEN SWEETS 


141 

“ I can’t see what in the world you want to 
cry for,” said Flora, sitting down on the edge 
of the bed, and laying her hand affectionately on 
Dollie’s. ‘‘ It wasn’t such a dreadful thing to do, 
and Aunt Kate never even scolded you.” 

“ I wish she would — Oh, I wish she would,” 
sobbed Dollie, letting her tears have their own 
way again ; “ I wouldn’t mind it half so much if 
she scolded, but she doesn’t even speak to me, and 
I know she’s dreadfully angry, and she’ll tell 
Uncle Frank. Oh, dear! oh dear. Whatever shall 
I do?” 

“ Well, you are the very queerest girl I ever 
knew,” said Flora in a tone of honest amazement ; 
“ I’m sure I’m always glad enough to escape a 
scolding. But if you really feel so badly about it, 
why don’t you go down and tell Aunt Kate so? 
She doesn’t believe you care a bit, she said so.” 

“ Do you really think it would do any good? ” 
asked Dollie, snatching at this possible gleam of 
hope. 

“ Why, of course she would. My mother al- 
ways forgives me, the minute I say I’m sorry, no 
matter what I’ve done.” 

But that’s different,” said Dollie, drearily. 
“ Mothers always do forgive, I guess, but still, 
if you think Mrs. Foster might? — ” 


142 


ONLY DOLLIE 


“ Go and try ; I’m sure Aunt Kate isn’t half as 
bad as you think. She is pretty mean to you, I 
know, but I don’t believe she means to be really 
unkind.” 

Dollie rose, without another word, and Flora 
watched her going slowly down the two flights 
of stairs to the dining-room, where the family 
generally sat in the evenings; a brave, resolute 
little figure, ready and anxious to atone for her 
fault. Flora was a kind-hearted girl, and she 
honestly believed she had given Dollie the best 
advice, but she had not known her aunt either so 
well or so long as Dollie had. 

Mrs. Foster was writing a letter at the dining- 
room table. She looked up with a slight start, on 
hearing a sound behind her, and, at sight of the 
intruder, she frowned ominously. 

“ Mrs. Foster,” said Dollie, breathing very 
fast, and clasping her hands together nervously as 
she spoke, “ I came to ask you please to forgive 
me; I’m very sorry.” 

For a moment Mrs. Foster sat looking at the 
little trembling figure before her, with hard, cold 
eyes ; then she turned away. 

“ If you are sorry, you may prove the fact by 
your future conduct,” she said stiffly. “ I have 


STOLEN SWEETS 


143 


very little faith in mere protestations of sorrow. 
Now go to bed; I am busy.’'’ 

Still Dollie lingered. 

'' You — you — are writing to Uncle Frank, 
aren’t you ? ” she faltered. 

“ I am writing to my husband, Mr. Foster.” 

“ And — and — will you tell him about — about 
this afternoon ? ” 

I shall do precisely as I think best,” said Mrs. 
Foster, dipping her pen in the ink. “ Did you 
hear me say I was busy ? Go to bed at once.” 


CHAPTER VII 


DOLLIE ENTERTAINS A SINGULAR GUEST 

I T was the twenty-second of December. Amy 
Norris had been repeating that delightful 
fact over and over to herself all day long, 
while little thrills of delightful anticipation kept 
running down her back. Flora Rogers had come 
running down to breakfast singing a Christmas 
carol at the top of her voice. Even Ralph and 
Tootie were unusually excited, having seen sev- 
eral mysterious parcels smuggled into their 
mother’s room, and they asked endless questions 
about Santa Claus, and how soon the stockings 
were to be hung by the nursery chimney. The 
very people in the street seemed happier than 
usual, Dollie thought, as she watched the passers- 
by; almost every one seemed in a hurry; almost 
every one carried a parcel. 

But Dollie was not in a hurry. There were no 
parcels for her to carry; no joyful anticipations 
to set her poor little heart fluttering. She was 
144 


DOLLIE ENTERTAINS A SINGULAR GUEST 145 

Spending a solitary afternoon all by herself ; even 
her usual companions Ralph and Tootie, had for 
once, forsaken her, and had been carried off down 
town by their mother, to look in at the shop win- 
dows. Flora was out as usual, having a good 
time with some of her school mates. 

“ I shall take Sarah down town with us,” Mrs. 
Foster had said at the luncheon table, “ she will 
enjoy the little change, so be sure you listen for 
the door bell, Dollie, while we are gone. The cook 
isn’t fit to go to the door to-day, she’s washing.” 

Dollie felt quite sure that the “ taking Sarah,” 
was intended as a means of showing her, Dollie, 
that she was still in disgrace, but this fact made 
very little impression on her. She was not suf- 
ficiently fond of Mrs. Foster to relish the pros- 
pect of a whole afternoon spent in her society, 
and looking in at shop windows, when one has no 
money to spend, and no prospect of ever becoming 
the possessor of any of the treasures displayed, 
is, after all, rather poor fun. So she had dressed 
the children, and watched them start, with no 
very keen sense of disappointment at not having 
been included in the invitation. 

She decided to spend the afternoon in studying ; 
her lessons had been sadly neglected since Uncle 
Frank went away. But somehow she found it 


ONLY DOLLIE 


rather hard work to concentrate her thoughts on 
English History that day, and almost before she 
realized it, the book had slipped down into her 
lap, and she was gazing out of the window, at 
the hurrying people, and building air-castles, in 
which I fear the Kings of England had but a very 
small share. 

“ If only Mrs. Foster would die, or go away 
somewhere, and never come back any more,’’ she 
said to herself, “and Uncle Frank and the children 
and I were keeping house all by ourselves, what 
fun we would all have. I’d buy a Christmas Tree, 
like one I saw on the avenue this morning, and 
I’d dress it so prettily for the children, and we’d 
all hang up our stockings, and Uncle Frank would 
fill them for us, just as Aunt Gertrude used to fill 
mine, with oranges and candy, and dates and all 
sorts of nice things. And Uncle Frank would give 
me five dollars to buy Christmas presents with, 
and I’d get something lovely for everyone. And 
we’d all go to the Norrises’ Christmas Tree. I’d 
wear a pink silk dress, with white over it, and 
Uncle Frank would kiss me good-bye, and tell me 
how nice I looked. And I’d have presents myself 
— such lovely presents — lots and lots of books, 
and a string of gold beads, and a ring, and oh, it 
would all be so lovely. I don’t think I want Mrs. 


DOLLIE ENTERTAINS A SINGULAR GUEST 147 

Foster to die either. She might go somewhere, 
very far off, to visit her brother in California, 
perhaps. I shouldn’t object to her having a nice 
time indeed, so long as she wasn’t here. Oh dear ! 
how beautiful it would be if there were really 
fairies in the world. If a fairy should come here 
this minute, and offer me three wishes,* I know 
what the very first one would be. I’d wish that 
I might go and live at the Norrises’ forever and 
ever. I don’t know exactly how it could be man- 
aged, but I might turn out to be some relation of 
theirs. People are always turning out to be some- 
thing in stories, but in real life they never do.” 

A ring at the front door here brought Dollie’s 
day dream to an abrupt close, and she rose, with a 
feeling of some perturbation. She was not fond 
of answering the door bell; people had a way of 
staring at her as much as to say “ now I won- 
der who in the world you are,” that always made 
her uncomfortable. However, there was no help 
for it this time, so she turned away from the win- 
dow with a sigh, and went down stairs, to admit 
the visitor, whoever it might be. 

'‘Does Mr. Foster live here?” 

" Yes, ma’am.” Dollie was looking in some 
surprise at the tall lady in deep mourning, who 
was standing on the door mat. 


148 


ONLY DOLLIE 


Is he at home? ” 

“ No, 'm; he’s gone to Colorado, and won’t be 
back before next week.” 

Dollie could not see the lady’s face very well, 
as it was covered by a thick crape veil, but she 
thought she seemed disappointed. She hesitated 
for a moment, and then said, doubtfully : — 

“ I suppose I shall have to wait, then, but I am 
very sorry; I will call again; I want to see Mr. 
Foster on important business.” 

“ You might see Mrs. Foster,” Dollie sug- 
gested. She was sure any one in such very deep 
mourning must be unhappy, and she was sorry for 
all unhappy people. 

The lady shook her head. 

I have never met the present Mrs. Foster,” 
she said, half turning away as she spoke. ‘‘ I knew 
Mr. Foster’s first wife very well ; I only learned a 
few days ago that she was dead, and that her hus- 
band had married again.” 

Dollie’s face brightened, and almost involun- 
tarily, she drew a step nearer to the visitor. 

“ Did you really know Aunt Gertrude,” she 
asked, eagerly, for the moment quite forgetting 
that she was only “ a little drudge.” “ Oh, I’m so 
glad ; I haven’t seen any one who knew Aunt Ger- 
trude in such a long time.” 


DOLLIE ENTERTAINS A SINGULAR GUEST 149 

The lady gave a violent start. 

Aunt Gertrude/’ she repeated ; “ why, you are 
not Mrs. Foster’s niece, surely.” 

Dollie flushed, and her eyes fell beneath the 
stranger’s astonished gaze. 

“Not exactly ! ” she faltered ; “ she was very 
good to me, and I always called her Aunt Ger- 
trude.” 

“ What is your name? ” 

The lady spoke so sharply that Dollie began to 
feel nervous and uncomfortable. She had thrown 
back her veil, and was staring at the child as 
though her keen, black eyes would force the truth 
from her, whether Dollie wished to tell it or 
not. 

“ My name is Dorothy, I don’t know what 
else.” 

“ Let me come in,” said the lady in a rather 
faint voice, and before Dollie could interpose, 
even if she had wished to do so, the strange visitor 
had pushed past her into the hall. 

Dollie did not like to appear rude or ungra- 
cious, even though she was a little frightened by 
the stranger’s singular conduct. She closed the 
front door, and led the way into the parlor. 

“ Won’t you sit down,” she said, politely. 

The lady — who had followed her in silence — 


ONLY DOLLIE 


150 

sank into the nearest chair. She was very pale, 
and her lips were quivering. 

Don't you feel well ? Would you like to have 
me get you anything? " asked Dollie timidly. 

“Yes, a glass of water, please; I feel a little 
faint." 

Dollie hurried away to the pantry, returning 
with a glass of ice water. The lady took the 
glass in her hand, which trembled so that she 
could scarcely hold it; but when she had swal- 
lowed a few drops, she seemed better, and a faint 
tinge of color came back into her face. 

“ Thank you very much," she said, handing the 
glass back to Dollie, and trying to smile. “ I am 
much better now ; I often have these little attacks. 
Now I want to talk to you a little. I was very 
fond of your Aunt Gertrude, and I want to ask 
you some questions about her." 

Dollie was very willing to talk about her Aunt 
Gertrude, especially to some one who had loved 
her, so she drew a chair up beside the strange 
lady, and was soon chattering away to her as 
freely as if they had been acquaintances of weeks 
instead of minutes. She must, indeed, have been 
very fond of Aunt Gertrude, Dollie decided, or 
she would never have cried so bitterly over the 
account of her illness and death, but then, strange 



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DOLLIE ENTERTAINS A SINGULAR GUEST 151 

to say, when Dollie went on to tell of Uncle 
Frank’s second marriage, she cried more than 
ever. 

“ And so you live here with Mr. and Mrs. Fos- 
ter, and take care of the children,” she said at 
last, drying her eyes, and trying to steady the 
quiver in her voice, when Dollie had finished her 
story. But why did you tell me you didn’t 
know your name? You are Mr. Foster’s adopted 
daughter, are you not?” 

I don’t know,” said, Dollie, looking rather 
puzzled ; “ Aunt Gertrude said I was Dorothy 
Foster, but Uncle Frank says I’m not.” 

The lady uttered a kind of groan, and once 
more buried her face in her pocket handkerchief, 
but in another moment she made another effort to 
control herself, and to speak calmly. 

You mustn’t think me very strange, because I 
can’t help crying,” she said, smiling her poor, sad 
smile. “ I used to love your Aunt Gertrude very 
dearly, and I loved you, too, when you were a 
tiny baby.” 

“Did' you really,” exclaimed Dollie, eagerly. 
“ Oh, I’m so glad ; I never met any one before 
who knew me when I was a baby. Was it when 
Aunt Gertrude lived in New Orleans that you 
knew her? ” 


152 


ONLY DOLLIE 


“ Yes, we were near neighbors, and dear 
friends; but after the Fosters left New Orleans, 
I lost track of them. I had not heard of them in 
years until a few days ago. I came to New York 
on purpose to try and find your Aunt Gertrude, 
and it was a great shock to me to hear that she 
was dead. She was very, very good to you, al- 
ways, wasn’t she, dear ? ” 

Oh, yes, very,” and the tears started to Dol- 
lie’s eyes at the recollection. 

“ I knew she would be, she promised — that is, 
I meant to say she always seemed to love you 
dearly, and so did her husband, too, for that mat- 
ter? Who could ever have dreamed of things 
turning out like this. I must see Mr. Foster, and 
have a talk with him as soon as he comes back. 
This is my card ; you must give it to him the mo- 
ment he comes home, and ask him to call on me at 
my hotel. He will know who I am. I must go 
now, for I don’t want to meet any one, here.” 

The lady rose, and handed Dollie a card, which 
she had taken from her card case. Then suddenly 
she paused, and with a sudden impulse, drew the 
child to her. 

Will you give me a kiss, Dorothy? ” she said 
in an odd choked voice. “ I had a little girl once, 
with eyes like yours, and her name was Dorothy, 


DOLLIE ENTERTAINS A SINGULAR GUEST 153 

too. God took her away three years ago, and 
my heart has been aching so ever since. 

Dollie raised her face to give the desired kiss, 
but the next moment she found herself clasped in 
an almost painful embrace, while the strange lady 
showered kisses on the little upturned face, at the 
same time murmuring low, broken words, which 
Dollie did not understand. 

Then, almost before Dollie had time to fully 
realize what was happening to her, the lady had 
released her again, and risen hurriedly to her feet. 

Good-bye,’’ she said, in a voice that was not 
quite steady. Come and see me sometime ; I 
am very lonely now. Tell Mr. Foster to let me 
know as soon as he returns, I must see him.” 

Dollie said she would not forget, and the lady 
had nearly reached the door, when she paused, as 
if with a sudden recollection. 

“ I had almost forgotten,” she said sadly, 
“ how near Christmas it is. Perhaps you will like 
to buy something for Christmas.” 

As she spoke, she opened her purse, and took 
from it a bill, which she held out to Dollie ; but the 
child drew back, flushing painfully. 

‘‘ You’re very kind, but I think I’d better not,” 
she said, timidly; ‘'I don’t think Uncle Frank 
would like to have me take it.” 


^54 


ONLY DOLLIE 


Nonsense,” said the lady a little impatiently; 
your Uncle Frank will have no objections, I can 
answer for that. Take it at once, or I shall be 
offended.” 

Her manner was so odd and imperious that 
Dollie dared not protest any more, and before she 
had time to utter a word of thanks, the door had 
closed, and she was standing alone in the hall, 
holding in her hand the lady’s card, and her gift, 
which, on examination, proved to be a five dollar 
bill. 

Dollie’s first act was to look at her present, her 
next to read the name on the card. “ Mrs. Le- 
roy, New Orleans.” And down in one corner 
was written in pencil, “ Hotel Netherlands, New 
York.” 

It really is almost like a fairy story, after all,” 
said Dollie to herself as she deposited money and 
address in her bureau drawer for safe keeping; 

she didn’t offer me three wishes, but she did 
give me five dollars. Now I can buy a Christmas 
present for everyone, but Mrs. Foster mustn’t 
know, not till they’re bought anyway; she might 
not let me go, or she might say I couldn’t keep the 
money. Mrs. Leroy said Uncle Frank wouldn’t 
mind, and I don’t believe he would, if she was 
a friend of Aunt Gertrude’s, but Mrs. Foster 


DOLLIE ENTERTAINS A SINGULAR GUEST 155 


doesn’t like to hear about Aunt Gertrude. I guess 
I had better not tell her about Mrs. Leroy at all, 
but just keep the card, and give it to Uncle Frank 
as soon as he comes home.” 

So Dollie kept her secret, and when Mrs. Foster 
remarked on her return, that she supposed nobody 
had called, Dollie said nothing. But all that eve- 
ning the child went about looking happier than 
she had looked in many a long day, and before 
Ralph went to sleep she told him a long story 
about a good fairy, who was a great friend of 
Santa Claus, and went about just before Christ- 
mas helping people and giving them money with 
which to buy presents for their friends, and mak- 
ing everybody very happy. 


CHAPTER VIII 


SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS 

ARAH,” said Dollie, coming into the 
pantry shortly after luncheon the fol- 
lowing day,” would you mind looking 
after Ralph and Tootie for a little while this after- 
noon? I want to go down town to do a little 
shopping, and Mrs. Foster’s out — I don’t believe 
she’d mind.” 

“ You want to go down town to do a little 
shopping,” repeated Sarah in some surprise. 
“Well, I declare! that sounds quite grand. But 
I’ll take care of the children all right,” she added, 
good-naturedly, seeing Dollie’s look of disap- 
pointment; “ it’s only fair you should have your 
turn, you were in all yesterday afternoon. I’m 
afraid, though, that you’ll find the stores dread- 
fully crowded.” 

“ I can’t help it if they are,” said Dollie; “ I 
couldn’t go before. I think the children will be 
good, they’re so happy and excited over Christ- 
156 


SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS 


157 


mas ; you won’t mind talking to them a little about 
it?” 

“ Oh, I’ll manage them all right, never you 
mind about that,” said Sarah, laughing. “ Run 
along and get your things on as quick as you can, 
and be back as soon as you can, for if Mrs. Foster 
comes home and finds you’re out, there may be 
a row.” 

Ten minutes later Dollie was walking rapidly 
down the street, her purse, containing the precious 
five dollar bill, clutched tightly in her hand. It 
was a glorious winter’s afternoon, and the streets 
were crowded with busy, hurrying Christmas 
shoppers. At the corner Dollie paused. She did 
not want to walk all the way down town, and yet 
she knew that she could not change her bill in 
a car. 

After a few seconds’ hesitation she decided to 
go into a small book store on the opposite side of 
the street, and get her money changed there. She 
had heard • Flora express a desire for a certain 
pretty calendar she had seen in the window of that 
very store, and if it were not too expensive, she 
might be able to buy it for her ; for even with so 
vast a sum as five dollars at her command, Dollie 
knew that she must not be too extravagant ; there 
were a good many presents to buy. 


ONLY DOLLIE 


158 

She crossed the street and entered the store. 
The three saleswomen were all busy waiting on 
customers, and Dollie was obliged to wait for a 
few moments before she could make her wants 
known. She was standing with her back to the 
door looking at some Christmas cards, which one 
of the saleswomen was showing to a young lady, 
when another customer entered, and she heard a 
voice just behind her say pleasantly — 

“Good afternoon. Miss Dollie; Christmas 
shopping like the rest of us, I suppose.” 

“Oh, Mr. Marston, is it you?” And Dollie 
turned round with a look of such genuine pleasure 
that Dick Marston was decidedly flattered. They 
had not met since the episode of “ The Little 
Minister,” and Dick had been haunted more than 
once by a vision of a pale little face, with big dark 
frightened eyes, looking into his for help and pro- 
tection. He was honestly pleased to see Dollie 
looking so well and happy. 

“ Why haven’t you been over to see us ? ” Dick 
inquired, as the two moved a little apart from the 
other customers at the counter. “ Aunt Lucy was 
speaking of you only this morning; she said she 
wished she knew how your cough was.” 

“ Oh, it’s ever so much better, thank you,’’’ said 
Dollie, flushing with pleasure at the thought that 


SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS 


159 


Mrs. Norris had really spoken of her; “that 
medicine your aunt gave me did me lots of good.” 
Dollie purposely ignored the first part of Dick’s 
speech, she could not explain that Mrs. Foster had 
strictly forbidden any further intercourse between 
her little drudge and their opposite neighbors. 

“ Well, I’m glad of that, but you ought to have 
come for some more. By the way, why aren’t 
you coming to the girls’ Christmas Tree to-mor- 
row night? Maud said you had sent a regret.” 

Dollie’s eyes fell and her lip trembled. 

“ Mrs. Foster wouldn’t let me,” she said in a 
very low voice. 

“ Bother Mrs. Foster, why not? ” 

“ I don’t know, she said I hadn’t any dress, and 
— and — I don’t think she likes to have me go to 
places with Flora. She said your aunt didn’t un- 
derstand my position when she asked me.” 

Dick flushed, and bit his lip with annoyance. 

“ Didn’t understand your position, what non- 
sense! I should like to give Mrs. Foster a piece 
of my mind, and so would Aunt Lucy, too, for 
that matter ; but we won’t bother about that now. 
Are you going Christmas shopping? ” 

Dollie replied that she was. 

“ Well, so am I. Suppose we go together. I 
hate shopping all by myself, and you can help me 


i6o 


ONLY DOLLIE 


pick out some things for the girls; you’ll know 
ever so much better, than I do what they’ll like. 
But I wouldn’t waste any more time in here if I 
were you; there’s nobody to wait on us, and 
they’re pretty well sold out, anyway.” 

Dollie explained that she was merely waiting 
to get her bill changed, but Dick quietly overruled 
that plan, aring his perfect ability to pay their 
car fares, and five minutes later they were whirl- 
ing down tD^ avenue in a crowded electric car, 
and Dollie was feeling prouder than she had ever 
felt before in her life. 

She had fancied that Dick looked a little sur- 
prised when she mentioned her desire to get a 
five dollar bill changed, and having no fear of his 
reporting to Mrs. Foster, she had soon given him 
the full history of how she had become possessed 
of so large a sum. How a kind lady had called 
lO see Uncle Frank, and she had opened the door, 
as Sarah was out; how the lady had asked her 
name, and told her that she was an old friend, 
and how before she went away she had kissed her, 
and asked her to come and see her. 

“ And then she gave me the money,” finished 
Dollie in a rather embarrassed tone. “ I didn’t 
like to take it at first, but she said Uncle Frank 
wouldn’t mind, and she looked so angry I didn’t 


SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS i6i 

like to say any more. Do you think I did wrong 
to take it ? 

'‘No, indeed,” said Dick, heartily; “I think 
you did perfectly right. But you’re not going to 
spend it all on Christmas presents for other peo- 
ple, are you? I’m sure the lady meant that you 
should buy something for yourself.” 

Dollie’s bright face clouded sudden’ 

“ Oh, do you really think she did? ” she said, 
anxiously ; “ do you think she’d be c tended if I 
spent it all for the others? There isn’t anything 
I want very much for myself, and I did want so 
very much to buy a present for everybody.” 

Dick said he did not believe the lady would 
really mind, but he secretly resolved that Dollie 
should have something for herself, even if it took 
his last cent of pocket money to procure it. 

• What a shopping expedition that was. I doubt 
very much whether any other person in all the ^ 
crowded stores that afternoon, enjoyed his or her 
shopping one-half as much as little Dollie en- 
joyed the spending of that precious five dollars. 
If she had been alone she might not have suc- 
ceeded so well, but with tall, strong Dick Marston 
for her companion, difficulties seemed to melt 
away like smoke. Dick had no fear of crowds 
or of making his wants known, and he shouldered 


i 62 


ONLY nOLLIE 


his way up to counters in a manner truly wonder- 
ful to behold, while his bright, handsome face and 
pleasant manner won their way with the most 
busy and tired sales people, and he and Dollie 
were attended to, and departed with their parcels 
in an almost incredibly short time, considering the 
busy season. As to what they bought — surely 
five dollars never purchased such a multitude of 
things before. There was the calendar for Flora 
— a perfectly beautiful one, to hang up on her 
wall — a pocket match safe for Uncle Frank, a 
big humming top for Ralph, and a pretty set of 
doll’s jewelry for Tootie. Then there were two 
magnificent silver thimbles for Sarah and the 
cook, and still the purse was not quite empty — 
Dollie was still the happy possessor of eighty- 
three cents. 

As for Dick’s purchases, they were on a rather 
more elaborate scale. There was a lovely port- 
folio for Maud, with paper, pens and a dear little 
ink stand, all complete; a whole set of Sophie May 
for Amy, a handsome cigar case for Mr. Norris, 
and a pretty little engagement book, with a silver 
pencil, for Aunt Lucy. And there was a box of 
candy for each of the Norrises’ servants, and half 
a dozen other things besides, for some of Dick’s 
particular friends. Dollie secretly came to the 


SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS 163 

conclusion that Mr. Marston must be a very rich 
young gentleman, indeed, and she felt very much 
honored that such a distinguished person should 
be willing to be seen with a shabby, unimportant 
little person like herself. But Dick did not act at 
all as if he felt that he was conferring an honor^ 
and, to all appearance, enjoyed his afternoon quite 
as much as Dollie did. 

“ Well, I guess that’s about all, isn’t it? Dick 
said at last, as they came out of Huyler’s, where 
their final purchases had been made. “ Do you 
think of anything else before we take a car ? ” 

Dollie hesitated. 

I haven’t spent quite all my money,” she said, 
doubtfully; “ I’ve got eighty-three cents left.” 

“ Well, hadn’t you better keep that for some 
other time?” suggested Dick, with unusual pru- 
dence. 

“ I think, if you don’t mind,” faltered Dollie, 
“ I would like to get one more thing; I don’t quite 
like not having anything for Mrs. Foster.” 

For Mrs. Foster,” repeated Dick, incredu- 
lously ; “ you surely don’t want to give her a pres- 
ent.” 

‘‘ Well, you see,” Dollie explained, rather apol- 
ogetically, “ Mrs. Foster doesn’t care very much 
about Christmas, I know, but it would seem so 


64 


ONLY DOLLIE 


queer to have something for every one else, and 
leave her out. Don’t you think I might get her 
some little thing, so she won’t feel neglected? ” 

“ I declare, Dollie, you are a good little soul ! ” 
exclaimed Dick heartily ; ‘‘ what do you think you 
would like to get for her? ” 

Dollie thought a very pretty needle book would 
be a good thing, so they plunged into another big, 
crowded store, and had soon added that very use- 
ful article to their numerous purchases. Fortu- 
'nately, most of Dick’s parcels were to be sent 
home,, so he was able to help Dollie with hers, 
and indeed, he insisted on carrying them all, 
somewhat to Dollie’s distress. 

I wish I knew how to thank you,” said Dol- 
lie, gratefully, as they left the car, and turned in 
the direction of home ; you’ve been so awfully, 
awfully kind to me.” 

“ Nonsense,” said Dick, laughing; “ I was only 
too glad to have company, and you’ve really been 
a great help to me in choosing the presents for the 
girls. I hope I haven’t been the means of get- 
ting you into another scrape, though.” 

“ Oh, no, I don’t think so. Sarah said she’d 
take care of the children while I was out. I don’t 
want Mrs. Foster to see the things, though, not 
till Christmas morning. I think, if only Uncle 


SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS 165 

Frank were at home, this would be the nicest 
Christmas we’ve had since Aunt Gertrude died. 
Wouldn’t it be lovely if there were really fairies; 
I think Mrs. Leroy must be almost a fairy, she 
has made me so happy.” 

Who is Mrs. Leroy? ” Dick asked in a rather 
startled tone. 

“ The lady who gave me the five dollars ; it was 
on her card, I saw it after she was gone.” 

“ Suppose a fairy should appear, and offer you 
three wishes, as they do in stories, what do you 
think you would wish for ? ” inquired Dick with 
some curiosity. 

‘‘ I was thinking about that yesterday, just 
before Mrs. Leroy came,” said Dollie, smiling, 
‘‘ and, do you know, I decided that the very first 
wish would be that I might turn out to be some 
relation to the Norrises, and go to your house to 
live.” 

Dick laughed. 

“ Not a bad wish,” he said; “ we do have pretty 
jolly times at home. Well, I’ll tell you some- 
thing, Dollie, if a fairy were to offer me three 
wishes, one of them would be that my little sister 
might be just like you.” 

“ Oh,” gasped Dollie, and she actually blushed; 

do you really mean it, Mr. Marston ? ” 


i66 


ONLY DOLLIE 


“ Yes, I do really mean it; you’re such a jolly 
little girl, you know. I’d rather have you for my 
sister than any one I know, except Amy, and she’s 
just the same thing. But you mustn’t call me 
Mr. Marston, it sounds so silly; call me Dick as 
every one else does.” 

“ I don’t think I should quite like to do that,” 
said Dollie, looking rather shocked at so bold a 
proposal ; “ I might say Mr. Dick if that would 
do.” 

“ All right, begin with Mr. Dick if you choose, 
but I hope it will be Dick in time. I am going 
away next week to try and find my own little 
sister.” 

“Really? You really have got a little sister, 
then? ” inquired Dollie with deep interest. 

“ Yes, or at least I hope I have. I have never 
seen her since she was a baby, but I am going to 
find her if I can. She must be somewhere about 
your age; how old are you, by the way? ” 

“ I was twelve in August.” 

“ Just my little sister’s age, and isn’t it funny, 
her name is Dorothy, too?” 

“ How many Dorothies there are,” said Dollie, 
reflectively. “ Mrs. Leroy was talking about a 
little Dorothy she had, who died — ^but won’t your 
sister be happy when she finds you ? ” 


SHOPPING FOR CHRISTMAS 167 

'' I don’t know, I’m sure,” said Dick, smiling; 
“ she may never have heard of me. But I shall be 
very happy if I can find her. Here we are; I’ll 
run up the steps, and ring the door bell for 
you.” 

“ Good-bye, and thank you so much,” said Dol- 
lie, holding out her hand as Dick gave her her 
parcels. “ You’ve been so good to me. I’ll never 
forget it. I do hope you’ll find your little sister, 
and that she’ll be a thousand times nicer than I 
am. 

Good-bye, and a Merry Christmas to you,” 
said Dick, giving the hand a hearty squeeze. “ I 
shall see you again before I go away, and we 
must try and persuade Mrs. Foster to let you 
come to the Christmas Tree; I’ll get Aunt Lucy to 
write her a note about it to-morrow.” 

Fortune, for once, favored Dollie, and neither 
Mrs. Foster nor Flora had reached home before 
her. She managed to escape to her room, with 
her precious parcels, unnoticed by any one except 
Sarah, who was not of a curious disposition as 
regards Christmas presents. It was the happiest 
evening Dollie had known in a long time. Mrs. 
Foster was unusually amiable, the children were 
good, and Flora was in high spirits. Nobody 
scolded or found fault, and when Dollie went to 


i68 


ONLY DOLLIE 


bed at nine o’clock, it was with a very light heart 
indeed. 

How surprised they’ll all be when Christmas 
morning comes,” she said to herself, taking one 
last peep at the wonderful purchases before put- 
ting out her gas. “ Oh, it must be beautiful to 
be rich, and to be able to buy presents for every- 
body. Mr. Dick must be very rich, I think, he 
bought such beautiful things. I wonder where 
his little sister is, and why he’s never seen her 
since she was a baby. I do hope he’ll find her, for 
I’m sure if he does, she’ll be the very happiest girl 
in the whole world.” 


CHAPTER IX 


A DREADFUL ACCUSATION 

B ut alas for Dollie’s bright hopes and an- 
ticipations! They were destined to re- 
ceive a sad check, and that before many 
hours were over. As soon as she came down stairs 
the next morning, she became aware of the fact 
that a change had taken place in the general at- 
mosphere. In the first place Mrs. Foster had a 
headache, and headaches never agreed with that 
lady’s temper. The very first sound Dollie had 
heard as she came out of her room that morning 
had been Mrs. Foster’s voice scolding Sarah for 
having neglected to sweep down the front stairs 
before breakfast. Then Flora was suffering 
from her first attack of homesickness. Flora had 
never been away from her family before on 
Christmas, and much as she had enjoyed the pros- 
pect in anticipation, now that the time had actu- 
ally come, she was beginning to regret her refusal 
to go home for the holidays, and not even the 
169 


ONLY DOLLIE 


170 

delightful prospect of the Norrises^ Christmas 
Tree that evening, could quite banish the frown 
from her brow, or the quiver from her lip. 

Breakfast passed off fairly well, and soon after- 
ward Dollie took the children out for a walk, 
while Flora retired to her room to weep, there 
being no school on Christmas Eve, and Mrs. 
Foster went away to attend to household duties. 
It was a bright, crisp morning, and as Ralph and 
Tootie were both in good spirits, Dollie soon 
cheered up, too, and took them to look at the 
Christmas Trees on the avenue. Tootie was pos- 
sessed by a desire to have one of the trees “ all her 
own self,” but was comforted by the assurance 
that Santa Claus was coming soon, and no one 
ever knew what he might take into his head to 
bring. 

They reached home at about eleven o’clock. 
Sarah let them in, and her face looked anything 
but Christmas like, Dollie thought. 

“ I’ll take off the children’s things,” she said 
rather hurriedly to Dollie; “ Mrs. Foster told me 
to tell you she wanted to speak to you the minute 
you came in. She’s up on the third story some- 
where. I don’t know what it’s all about, but 
she’s in a terrible rage. I’ve had about enough of 
her temper, too, and I told her so this morning; 


A DREADFUL ACCUSATION 171 

she can look for another girl next week. I ain’t 
no slave to be ordered about as if I was a dog.” 

Dollie hurried upstairs; Mrs. Foster wanted to 
send her on some errand, she supposed; she even 
hummed the verse of a Christmas carol softly to 
herself, she felt so happy that morning. She had 
reached the third story, and was just going in 
quest of Mrs. Foster in the store closet, when she 
heard the lady’s voice calling her sharply. 

Fm here, Dollie, in your room ; I wish to 
speak to you.” 

Dollie turned, entered her own room, and then 
stood still on the threshold, literally rooted to the 
spot by the sight before her. There they were, 
all her precious purchases, all the little surprises, 
which no one was to see till to-morrow spread out 
on the bed, their papers ruthlessly torn off, laid 
bare to the full light of day. And there, too, was 
Mrs. Foster standing over them, with a face 
like an avenging spirit, and a voice of awful 
severity. 

“ Now, Dollie, explain to me, where did all this 
rubbish come from ? ” 

Dollie’s heart sank down, down, like a big lump 
of lead, and all the color went out of her face. 

“ I bought them,” she stammered, “ they’re all 
mine — I bought them for Christmas presents.” 


172 


ONLY DOLLIE 


“ Christmas presents/’ repeated Mrs. Foster 
sternly, “ and where did the money come from I 
should like to know ? ” 

A lady gave it to me — her name is Mrs. 
Leroy — she said she was an old friend of Aunt 
Gertrude’s.” 

“ Look here, Dollie,” Mrs. Foster’s voice grew 
even sterner than before, and her eyes flashed 
angrily; “ don’t try to deceive me, you know 1 
won’t stand falsehoods. I never even heard of a 
Mrs. Leroy.” 

Dollie’s eyes flashed, too, as she met Mrs. Fos- 
ter’s stern gaze, without flinching, and uncon- 
sciously she drew herself up a little as she an- 
swered — 

“ It isn’t a story — I never tell stories. Mrs. 
Leroy came the day before yesterday when you 
were all out. She wanted to see Uncle Frank, 
and she said Ihe was an old friend of Aunt Ger- 
trude’s. I told her Uncle Frank was away, and 
she came in and talked to me. She’s staying at 
the Netherlands, and she wants him to come and 
see her as soon as he gets back. She was very 
kind, and before she went away she gave me five 
dollars for a Christmas present. She said Uncle 
Frank wouldn’t mind my taking it, because she 
used to love Aunt Gertrude. I didn’t tell you, 


A DREADFUL ACCUSATION 


173 


because the other money I had you took away, 
but yesterday afternoon I went down town and 
bought the things; Sarah stayed with the chil- 
dren while I was out.” 

Mrs. Foster shrugged her shoulders contemp- 
tuously. 

And you really expect me to believe that ab- 
surd story ? ” she said in a tone that sent the burn- 
ing color back into Dollie’s cheeks with a rush. 
“ Now listen to me, Dollie, and don’t interrupt. I 
don’t believe one word of what you say. A Mrs. 
Leroy may have called here to see Mr. Foster on 
business — indeed, I found her card in your 
drawer — but that she gave you any money I can- 
not and will not believe. I missed a five dollar 
bill several days ago, and I have been rather 
bothered about it ever since, although I have not 
mentioned the subject. It was partly with a hope 
of finding it, or some trace of it, that I decided to 
look through your bureau drawers this morning. 
I have not the least doubt where the money came 
from with which these ridiculous things were 
bought.” 

You mean you think I took your money?” 
Dollie’s voice sounded sharp and shrill, and there 
was again that strange look in her eyes, which had 
frightened Flora on the morning when the invi- 


174 


ONLY DOLLIE 


tations for the Norrises’ Christmas Tree came. 
“You think I’m a thief?” 

Mrs. Foster winced slightly. 

“ I don’t say that exactly, but I think you took 
my money. You may have considered you had a 
right to a part of it, on account of that money I 
borrowed from you; it would be like your impu- 
dence to think such a thing. But you shall 
be properly punished for your behavior; not 
one article of this trash shall you have to dis- 
pose of.” 

So saying, Mrs. Foster began hurriedly gather- 
ing up Dollie’s precious purchases, with the evi- 
dent intention of carrying them away. For a mo- 
ment the child stood quite still, watching her in 
dumb, horror-stricken silence. Then all at once 
something seemed to wake up in her — something 
that made her breath come in cjuick gasps, and set 
her heart beating faster than it had ever done be- 
fore in her life. With a bound she was at Mrs. 
Foster’s side, and had seized her arm with two 
little passionate hands. 

“ How dare you — how dare you touch my 
things?” she panted. “You shan’t take them 
away, I say you shan’t. They’re mine, all mine 
— I bought them with my own money. It is you 
who are a thief if you take them away. You’re a 


A DREADFUL ACCUSATION 


175 

bad, wicked woman, and I hate you, I hate you, I 
hate you ! ” 

Dollie got no further. She would never have 
gotten so far if amazement had not for the mo- 
ment deprived Mrs. Foster of the power of speech 
or action. That Dollie — meek little Dollie — the 
household drudge — should have dared to fly into 
such a passion — to use such unheard of language 
to her — her, Mrs. Foster — the idea was simply in- 
credible. But it was only for a minute, then Mrs. 
Foster regained her self possession. With one 
quick movement, she loosened the little clinging 
fingers from her arm, and grasping Dollie by the 
shoulder in a firm, relentless grasp, was shaking 
her till her teeth chattered. 

“You impertinent little wretch,” she cried, giv- 
ing Dollie's ears a smart box as she spoke, “ Fll 
teach you not to insult me again. The very fact 
of your flying into such a rage proved the truth 
of what I said. You are a thief, and as soon as 
my husband comes home I shall insist on your be- 
ing sent away to some place where you will never 
trouble me again. You are no fit associate for my 
children. I can’t have Ralph and Tootie contami- 
nated by you. How do I know what you may not 
teach them? ” And with a push that sent Dollie 
reeling against the wall, Mrs. Foster snatched up 


176 


ONLY DOLLIE 


the poor little Christmas presents, and left the 
room, slamming the door behind her. Mrs. Fos- 
ter’s own temper was apt to be violent at times. 

Dollie stood staring at the closed door for a 
moment in helpless misery. Then, as the full force 
of all that had happened rushed over her, she ut- 
tered a low cry, and flinging herself face down- 
wards on the floor, lay there shaking from head to 
foot in a perfect passion of grief and rage. 

It was a long time that Dollie lay there, flat on 
the floor, moaning and sobbing, and fighting down 
the passion and despair that seemed almost too 
great to be borne. But at last she sat up and 
pushed the tumbled hair out of her eyes. She 
was very tired and her head ached. She felt ut- 
terly miserable, utterly crushed. At first she had 
been too angry to be frightened, but now she be- 
gan to remember Mrs. Foster’s terrible words, 
and her threat of sending her away. Where would 
she be sent to, Dollie wondered. Prison was the 
only place she could think of, and at the thought 
her eyes grew big and round with terror. Thieves 
were often sent to prison, and Mrs. Foster had 
called her a thief. If Mrs. Foster told people that 
Dollie had taken her money, they would surely 
believe her. Mrs. Foster was so strong, and she 
waz j,rown up. DolHe was only a little girl, and 


A DREADFUL ACCUSATION 


177 


consequently helpless. Grown up people were al- 
ways believed before little girls. To be sure, Mrs. 
Leroy knew the truth, but would Mrs. Leroy save 
her? Would she even take the trouble to inter- 
fere? Was she only a stranger after all? Still, 
Mrs. Leroy knew; there was untold comfort in 
that thought. She would go and see Mrs. Leroy 
at once, the Netherlands was only a few blocks 
away, and Mrs. Leroy had asked her to come 
some time. But Mrs. Foster must not know, or 
she would never let her go. She might manage to 
steal out very softly while the family were at 
luncheon, but if she once left the house-, she would 
never dare return, unless she had Mrs. Leroy’s 
confirmation of the truth of the story. 

While she was still pondering on this subject, 
her door was opened abruptly, and Mrs. Foster 
came in, bringing some lunch on a tray. She set 
the tray down on the floor (there was no table), 
and without a word — without even a glance a^ 
Dollie — she turned and walked out of the room 
again, closing the door behind her as before. Dol- 
lie — who had rather expected to be left to starve 
— was surprised by this attention, but she was 
not hungry, and she made no effort to touch the 
food. She sat for a few moments in the same 
attitude on the floor, then she rose slowly, 


ONLY DOLLIE 


178 

picked up her hat, which had fallen off, when 
Mrs. Foster shook her. She had forgotten to take 
off her jacket, so when she put on her hat, she was 
quite ready to go out again. 

Still she hesitated. Suppose Mrs. Leroy had 
gone away. Suppose she refused to explain. 
What was she to do — what was to become of her ? 

If Uncle Frank were at home, he would have 
protected her, she knew, but he had written that 
he should not be back before the new year, and 
in the mean time where could she go? The Nor- 
rises were kind, but they too, were comparative 
strangers. If Mrs. Foster were to tell them that 
dreadful story. Airs. Norris might not consider 
her a fit companion for Maud or Amy. Even kind 
Dick Marston might doubt her — she remembered 
how surprised he had looked when she had first 
spoken of changing a five dollar bill. And yet, 
to see Mrs. Leroy seemed her only hope of escape. 

She glanced about the familiar little room at her 
very few treasures, and a big lump rose in her 
throat. Perhaps she would never see that little 
room again, and there was Aunt Gertrude’s pho- 
tograph in its pretty gilt frame, and the Venetian 
vase Uncle Frank had given her, and the box 
made of real shells from Capri. She had once had 
other and more valuable treasures, but Mrs. Fos- 


A DREADFUL ACCUSATION 


179 


ter had taken them away, saying they were too 
good to be wasted on the third story. Then she 
opened the door, and peeped cautiously out into 
the passage. There was no one to be seen, and 
she stole softly down stairs, walking on tip toe, 
and scarcely daring to breathe. She met no one, 
but from the dining-room came the sound of 
voices, and the rattle of dishes. She heard Tootie 
ask in a rather fretful little voice, “ Where’s Dol- 
lie? I want Dollie to fix my tater.” 

Mrs. Foster’s reply was also perfectly audible. 

‘‘ Dollie is a bad girl, she is punished. Would 
you mind buttering her potato. Flora ? ” 

Dollie dared not open the front door, but crept 
softly down the basement stairs. The cook was 
busy in the kitchen, and Sarah was waiting on the 
luncheon table up stairs, so there was no one to 
notice the little figure as it glided across the base- 
ment hall, and out through the area door. The 
cook paused for a moment in her work, and 
turned her head, thinking she heard the outside 
door being softly closed, but seeing no one, and 
hearing no other sound, she decided that she must 
have been mistaken. 

Once in the street Dollie walked fast. Her 
heart was still throbbing uncomfortably, but the 
sharp wintry air soon cooled her cheeks, and that 


i8o ONLY DOLLIE 

terrible choking sensation in her throat grew less 
painful. She remembered how kind Mrs. Leroy 
had been — how tenderly she had kissed her — and 
instinctively her hopes rose. She even began to 
build a little air castle. Mrs. Leroy had been very 
fond of Aunt Gertrude, and she was very unhappy 
now that her own little girl was dead. Suppose 
she should take a fancy to her, Dollie, and offer to 
adopt her. It would certainly be very pleasant, 
and Uncle Frank would not object. She had 
thought more than once lately that Uncle Frank 
would not be sorry to get her out of the way. He 
disliked being made uncomfortable, and Mrs. Fos- 
ter was always bothering him about her. She 
wondered why Mrs. Leroy had cried when she 
heard about her taking care of the children; it 
was all very odd — very perplexing. 

Arrived at the big hotel, Dollie went round to 
the side, and in by the ladies’ entrance. She had 
spent so much of her life in hotels during the years 
they had spent abroad, that she had no hesitation 
about what to do, but going straight up to the col- 
ored porter in livery, inquired, without faltering, 
if Mrs. Leroy were at home. 

Leroy ! ” repeated the man, eying the shabby 
little figure rather curiously; ‘‘ there’s a Mrs. Le- 


A DREADFUL ACCUSATION i8i 

roy staying here, but I don’t know whether she’s 
in or out. Will you send up your card ? ” 

Dollie explained that she had no card, but 
added as she saw the man look doubtful : — 
“Please tell her it’s Dollie Foster; she asked 
me to come.” 

The man told her to go into the reception room, 
and wait while he sent up her message, and Dol- 
lie complied, her heart beating faster than ever. 

There were several other people waiting in 
the reception room, but none of them took any 
special notice of Dollie. They were all busy about 
their own affairs, and, judging from the scraps 
of their conversation which Dollie caught, those 
affairs nearly all had some connection with the 
fact that it was the day before Christmas. This 
fact, made poor Dollie’s heart ache, for she re- 
membered that there was to be no Merry Christ- 
mas for her. Even if Mrs. Leroy established her 
innocence, she dared not hope that Mrs. Foster 
would forgive her for flying into a rage, and it 
was not even to be expected that the precious 
presents would be restored to her. 

She waited about ten minutes ; then the colored 
porter appeared once more in the door-way. 

“ Mrs. Leroy is out at present ; she left word at 


i 82 


ONLY DOLLIE 


the office that she would be in at about five, or 
perhaps a little later. Will you call again, or would 
you leave a message ? ” 

“ Thank you. I’ll — I’ll call again.” Dollie’s 
voice shook, and she realized all at once that she 
was very tired. Not before five, and it was not 
yet two. What was she to do in the meantime? 
Where was she to go? 

The hall boy turned away, apparently taking 
no further interest in the matter, and after one 
wistful glance round the warm, comfortable re- 
ception room, Dollie went slowly down the steps 
and out into the street again. It never occurred 
to her to ask if she might wait in the hotel until 
Mrs. Leroy’s return, and yet where else could she 
go. She dared not think of going home; Mrs. 
Foster would insist upon knowing wdiere she had 
been, and that would be the end of any hopes of 
seeing Mrs. Leroy for that day at least. She 
knew Mrs. Foster well enough to be very sure 
that that lady’s sense of anger wbuld be far keener 
than her sense of justice. She thought of the 
Norrises, but dismissed that idea at once as being 
far too bold and presumptuous to be contemplated 
even for a moment. There were one or two old 
school mates who had asked her to come and see 
them, but that was so long ago ; they might have 


A DREADFUL ACCUSATION 


183 


forgotten all about her, and besides, she was not 
sure about their addresses. No, there was noth' 
ing for her to do, but to walk about until five 
o’clock, and then go back to the hotel, with the 
hope of finding Mrs. Leroy. 

She crossed the avenue and entered the park. 
She had spent so many hours in the park with 
Ralph and Tootie that it seemed more familiar 
to her than any other part of the city. Besides, 
there were benches there, where she could sit 
down if she became too tired to walk any more. 
She walked on slowly for some distance, paying 
very little attention to where she was going — 
clearly conscious of but two distinct facts — she 
must not go home, and she must see Mrs. Leroy. 
A sudden turn in the path brought her in full view 
of the pond covered with skaters. 

It was pretty to watch the figures gliding back- 
ward and forward on the ice, and Dollie stood 
still, for the moment almost forgetting her own 
troubles in the interest of the scene before her. 
After a little while she sat down on a bench. It 
was very cold, but she was too tired to stand any 
longer. There was a certain fascination in watch- 
ing the skaters; they all looked so merry and 
happy. They were all looking forward to a 
Merry Christmas, Dollie felt sure, and she won- 


184 


ONLY DOLLIE 


dered fully whether every one in the whole world 
was going to have a Merry Christmas, every one 
but her. 

Hallo, Dollie, well I declare, cold weather 
doesn’t seem to bother you very much. You look 
as calm and comfortable on that bench as if it 
were June instead of December.” 

At the sound of the familiar voice just behind 
her, Dollie turned her head, with a start, and next 
moment she had sprung to her feet, with a joyful 
little cry. 

Mr. Dick, oh Mr. Dick, I’m so glad.”’ And 
then all at once her courage gave way utterly, and 
she burst into tears. 

“ Dollie, why my poor little Dollie, what 
is it? ” 

Dick’s kind face was full of concern, and he sat 
down on the bench himself, and drew Dollie down 
beside him. 

Oh, I’m in such dreadful, dreadful trouble,” 
sobbed Dollie, with a mighty effort to speak co- 
herently. “Mrs. Foster has taken away all my 
Christmas presents — every single one — and she 
says I’m a thief. Oh dear, oh dear, what shall I 
do?” 

Dick’s face grew very blank indeed. 

“ She says you’re a thief ? ” he repeated, slowly. 


A DREADFUL ACCUSATION 185 

“ She wouldn’t believe what I told her about 
Mrs. Leroy. She said she had lost five dollars, 
and she knew I had stolen it. I was so angry I 
said dreadful things, and I caught hold of her 
arm, and tried to prevent her taking away my 
presents. Then she shook me and boxed my ears, 
and she said I wasn’t fit to associate with Ralph 
and Tootie. I slipped out when they were all at 
lunch; I had to see Mrs. Leroy, you know, and 
ask her to explain about the money. I went to 
the Netherlands, where she is staying, but she was 
out, and they said she wouldn’t be back before 
five. I’m afraid to go home again, so I came 
over here to wait. I didn’t know where else to 
go.” And Dollie’s sobs broke forth afresh. 

Dick’s eyes were flashing ominously, and with 
a sudden impulse, he threw his strong arm around 
the trembling figure. 

Look here, Dollie,” he said, and there was a 
ring of authority in his voice ; “ this won’t do at 
all. You can’t sit here all the afternoon; you’ll 
take your death of cold, and you can’t go wan- 
dering about by yourself till five o’clock. Now 
listen to me, and don’t cry. I’ll take care of you, 
Dollie — poor little Dollie — now listen. I am go- 
ing to take you home with me, and leave you with 
Aunt Lucy and the girls. I’ll explain everything 


i86 


ONLY DOLLIE 


to them, and they’ll be kind to you never fear 
about that. Then at five o’clock I’ll go and see 
Mrs. Leroy myself. I’ll tell her just what has 
happened, and I’m sure she’ll make everything all 
right. Then we can go to Mrs. Foster, and if 
she doesn’t apologize to you for her shameful 
accusation, I shall have something to say to her 
that she won’t forget in a hurry. Now come 
along.” 

Dick rose as he spoke, and Dollie obediently 
followed his example. She was still trembling, 
but there was certainly a great comfort in the 
sound of Dick’s kind voice, and in his cheerful 
confidence that everything would be all right. 
In her inmost heart she firmly believed that Mr. 
Dick ” could do anything in the world that he 
made up his mind to do, and her admiration for 
the young man was boundless. They walked on 
side by side, rather silently. Dick was almost too 
angry to talk. He was afraid that if he once be- 
gan on the subject of Mrs. Foster’s behavior, he 
would say more than would be wise, considering 
that there seemed no prospect of Dollie’s being 
removed from her care. As for Dollie, she stood 
far too much in awe of her tall, handsome pro- 
tector, to venture on opening any conversation 
on her own account. Only when they had left the 


A DREADFUL ACCUSATION 


187 


park, and were nearing home, she looked up sud- 
denly, with flushed cheeks and trembling lips. 

“ Must I go to your house? ” she faltered, nerv- 
ously — “ couldn’t you leave me somewhere else? ” 

“Why?” inquired Dick, looking down at her 
in some surprise. “ I thought you and Amy were 
great friends, and you seemed to take to Aunt 
Lucy the first time you saw her.” 

“ Yes, — oh, yes, I love her, and they’re all so 
kind, but they don’t know me very well; they 
might not believe — oh, please don’t make me go 
there now — not till you’ve seen Mrs. Leroy. In- 
deed, I’d much rather stay out in the street all 
the afternoon. I’m not tired, and I won’t take 
cold.” 

She looked so thoroughly distressed and un- 
comfortable that Dick was touched. 

“ I can’t do that, Dollie,” he said, kindly, but 
with decision, “ and I don’t know of any other 
place to take you to, unless you are willing to go 
back to Mrs. Foster’s. It will only be for a little 
while; I promise to come straight there the mo- 
ment I have settled matters with Mrs. Leroy. I 
saw Mrs. Foster going down the street half an 
hour ago, when I was on my way to the park, 
so you needn’t be afraid of meeting her.” 

Dollie looked relieved. 


i88 


ONLY DOLLIE 


“ If you're sure Mrs. Foster’s out, I wouldn’t 
mind going back,” she said, doubtfully. '' Sarah’s 
very kind, she wouldn’t tell, and I could stay in 
my room all the afternoon. But, oh,” with a sud- 
den recollection, “ I mustn’t spoil your fun ; you 
were going skating, weren’t you?” And she 
glanced at the skates Dick carried in his hand. 

“ Never mind about that; I didn’t care much 
about skating to-day. I only went because it was 
a holiday, and I had nothing better to do. Now 
here we are ; shall I go up the steps with you, and 
make sure the dragon is out of the way ? ” 

“ Oh, if you wouldn’t mind,” said Dollie, 
eagerly, “ I should be so very much obliged.” 

Dick laughed, and ran up the steps to ring the 
bell. The door was opened by Sarah, who looked 
more than a little surprised at the sight of Dollie 
and her companion. 

“ Is Mrs. Foster at home? ” inquired Dick, in- 
nocently. 

“ No, sir, Mrs. Foster and Miss Flora’s both 
gone out.” 

“ That’s right,” said Dick, cheerfully. “ Now 
run in, Dollie, and remember you’re not to worry; 
I’ll be back just as soon as I can.” 

He gave Dollie’s hand a reassuring squeeze, 
turned away, and in another moment was gone. 


A DREADFUL ACCUSATION 189 

Sarah drew Dollie in, closed the door, and then 
her curiosity and excitement found vent in a tor- 
rent of words. 

“Well, I never; I declare, yOu might have 
knocked me down with a feather when I saw you 
standing there. How ever did you get out with- 
out any of us seeing you? Mrs. Foster said you 
were to stay in your room, and no one was to go 
near you. She wouldn’t even let me carry up 
your lunch tray, but must do it herself. She was 
in an awful temper, I can tell you. I was just 
thinking I’d go up for the tray now she’s gone 
out.” 

“ I slipped out the basement way while they 
were all at lunch,” Dollie explained. “ I went to 
see the lady who gave me the five dollars Mrs. 
Foster said I stole. She was out and she was 
coming home at five o’clock, and Mr. Marston’s 
going to see her. You won’t tell Mrs. Foster 
about my going out, will you ? ” 

“Not one word, you can bet your life on that. 
And there’s not a soul need know neither, for the 
children’s both down in the kitchen playing with 
the cat. So you just slip up to your room, and 
Mrs. Foster’!! never know but what you’ve been 
there all the time. Said you stole some money, 
did she? Nice lady she is, to be sure! ” 


CHAPTER X 


DICK MAKES A CALL AND A DISCOVERY 

H aving seen Dollie safely inside Mrs. 

Foster’s front door, Dick Marston lost 
no time in hurrying home, and telling 
the story of what he termed “ that Foster wo- 
man’s outrageous conduct,” to his aunt and 
cousins, whom he found in the parlor, busily put- 
ting the finishing touches to the Christmas Tree. 
Dick told his story rapidly, with flashing eyes, 
but he felt sure of the interest and sympathy of 
the auditors, and indeed he was not mistaken. 

“ It’s the most dreadful thing I ever heard in 
my life,” declared Maud, wrathfully, as her cousin 
paused for breath. “ Something ought to be done 
to her; I don’t see how she dare accuse that poor 
little Dollie of such dreadful things.” 

“ Oh, mother, can’t we have Dollie come here 
and stay with us? ” demanded Amy, clasping her 
hands. “ She’s such a nice little girl, and I’m so 
sorry for her.” 


DICK MAKES A CALL 


191 

“ It really is outrageous,” said Mrs. Norris, 
looking grave and disturbed herself ; “ that wo- 
man is not a lady, I saw it the first time I met 
her, and yet I don’t really see what we can do. I 
don’t suppose we have any right to interfere. I 
sent Mrs. Foster a note this morning, asking her 
if she would not allow Dollie to come with Flora 
to the Christmas Tree this evening, but I have 
had no reply as yet, and after what has happened, 
I scarcely suppose she will let her come. I am 
glad you agreed to go and see that person, Dick; 
if she is an old friend of the family, she may be 
able to do something, and it certainly seems the 
best way of settling matters. Where did you say 
she was staying? ” 

“ At the Netherlands — her name is Leroy, Mrs. 
Leroy.” 

Mrs. Norris gave a slight start, and the color 
rose in her cheeks. She said nothing, however, 
only as Dick was leaving the house an hour 
later, she followed him to the head of the 
stairs and whispered as she gave him a motherly 
kiss : — 

“ Don’t get too much excited, dear ; keep your 
temper whatever happens, and if you can, find 
out if this Mrs. Leroy is any relation to the Le- 
roys of New Orleans.” 


193 


ONLY DOLLIE 


It Still wanted a few minutes of five when 
Dick entered the great hotel, and inquired of the 
colored porter, if Mrs. Leroy were at home. 

Mrs. Leroy had just come in, the porter said; 
would he send up his card? 

Dick hesitated. 

“ Lm afraid she won’t know who I am,” he 
said, “ but you may give her my card, and please 
say I have called on important business.” 

Dick felt rather uncomfortable, in spite of his 
cheerful, confident manner, when the hall boy had 
taken up his card, and he was requested to wait in 
the reception-room, just as Dollie had been three 
hours earlier. After all, when he came to think of 
it, it was very doubtful if Mrs. Leroy would see 
him. He was a perfect stranger to her, and she 
could naturally have no idea what his business 
could be. He began to wish that he had brought 
Dollie with him, and he decided that if the lady 
refused to see him, he would write her a note, ex- 
plaining the facts in the case, and trust in her 
kindness and natural sense of justice, to make 
everything all right for his little friend. He was 
busy composing this note in his own mind when, 
contrary to his expectations the hall boy returned, 
and politely requested him to walk up stairs to 
Mrs. Leroy’s private parlor. 


DICK MAKES A CALL 


193 


With a heart that beat rather faster than he 
would have cared to confess to any one, Dick 
complied, and three minutes later found himself 
knocking at a door on the first floor. A voice 
said, “ come in,’^ and in another moment he was 
standing in the presence of a tall lady in deep 
mourning, who received him more graciously than 
he had dared to expect, and in rather a low, un- 
steady voice, requested him to be seated. 

“ I am sorry to trouble you, Mrs. Leroy,’’ Dick 
began, frankly, noticing with some surprise, that 
the lady was very pale ; “ I was almost afraid that 
you would refuse to see me.” 

“ Why did you think that ? ” Mrs. Leroy inter- 
rupted rather impatiently. “ I am glad to see you 
— very glad — but how did you find out that I 
was here ? ” 

I — I came on a message for a little friend of 
yours,” said Dick, more and more perplexed by 
the lady’s peculiar manner — “ a little girl, to 
whom you were very kind the other day. Her 
name is Dollie, and she lives at Mr. Foster’s, at 
number — ” 

Dick paused abruptly, for Mrs. Leroy had sud- 
denly fallen back in her chair, looking so white 
and ill that he was really frightened. 

Is there anything the matter — can I do any- 


194 


ONLY DOLLIE 


thing for you ? ” he exclaimed, springing hastily 
to her side; but she recovered herself almost im- 
mediately, and shook her head. 

“ There is nothing the matter,’’ she said, 
faintly, “ only you took me so by surprise. I did 
not expect to see you, it was a great shock — you 
are very much like your father.” 

“ My father,” repeated Dick, a sudden sus- 
picion making his voice hard and sharp — you 
knew my father ; you know who I am ? ” 

“ Certainly ; you are Richard Marston, are you 
not ? ” And Mrs. Leroy glanced at Dick’s card, 
which she still held in her hand. 

“Yes, that is my name, but you — who are 
you? ” 

“ You don’t know, and yet you come to sec me; 
I don’t understand.” 

“ I told you I came on business ; I had no idea 
who you were, but now I begin to suspect. I 
seem to remember having seen you somewhere 
long ago. Your name is Leroy — do you come 
from New Orleans? ” 

Mrs. Leroy bowed her head in silence. There 
was a look of suffering in her eyes, and she was 
very white. Her expression might have touched 
the heart of any one less excited and impatient 
than her present visitor, but Dick’s excitement 


DICK MAKES A CALL 


195 


and impatience were rapidly carrying him away 
with them. 

“ You — you are not my father's sister ! " he 
gasped, incredulously. 

“ I am your Aunt Helen,” she said, quietly ; 

I thought you knew — I thought that was why 
you had come.” 

There was a moment of dead silence, then Dick 
said in a very low voice, and, in a manner that was 
more like that of a man than a boy : — 

“ No, I did not know, but I am very glad, for 
I intended going to New Orleans next week, ex- 
pressly to see you.” 

“ To see me? ” Mrs. Leroy repeated, a sudden 
light coming into her sad face; “ you really cared 
about seeing your aunt then ? ” 

“ It wasn’t that,” said Dick, bluntly, his hand- 
some, boyish face very grave and stern. '' I 
wanted to see you, because — because I wanted you 
to tell me what you did with my little sister, 
Dorothy.” 

Mrs. Leroy uttered a low cry, and put both 
hands up to her face, as if to try and shut out 
something that hurt her. 

Oh, don’t be hard on me — don’t blame me,” 
she moaned, piteously. “ I never meant to do 
wrong; I thought I was acting for the best. 


196 


ONLY DOLLIE 


Listen, Dick, and don’t blame me any more than 
you can help/’ She leaned forward as she spoke, 
and laid her head pleadingly on Dick’s arm. “You 
don’t know about all the trouble. You remem- 
ber the children, don’t you? You used all to play 
together when we visited your father and mother. 
They are all dead, all three, think of it, Dick, all 
three ! Little Dorothy died of scarlet fever, three 
years ago, and the boys — you remember Percy 
and Herbert^ — were both drowned last summer. 
They went out in the afternoon, well and strong, 
and in the evening they were both brought home 
to me dead. The boat upset; Percy could swim, 
and he tried to save Herbert, but it was no use, 
they were both drowned. I have no one left in the 
world now, no one but you and little Dorothy. 
You are my nearest relations, and there is plenty 
of money now. An old uncle of my husband’s 
died a few years ago, and left us everything. Oh, 
Dick, try and forgive me the wrong I did so long 
ago. I am so lonely; I must have some one to 
love me, and you are my own brother’s son.” 

She stretched out her hands in a kind of dumb 
appeal, but although greatly shocked, Dick was 
not altogether softened. 

“ I am very sorry. Aunt Helen,” he said, 
gravely ; “it is terrible that you should have had 


DICK MAKES A CALL 


197 


SO much trouble. I wish I knew the right thing 
to say, but I’m afraid I don’t. I will ask Aunt 
Lucy to come and see you, but first of all I want 
you to tell me about my little sister.” 

“ I don’t wonder that you find it hard to for- 
give me,” said Mrs. Leroy, humbly. “ I made a 
terrible mistake, but how could I know how it 
would turn out. They were so fond of her, and 
there were no other children. They wanted to 
adopt her, but they were afraid that some of her 
relations might some time claim her, so I promised 
to keep the secret. I have always been a truthful 
woman, I have never broken my word. Gertrude 
and I had been dear friends all our lives, I knew 
the child would be safe with her, and I had so 
little then ; it was such a struggle to get on, and to 
give the boys a good education. I never dreamed 
of your mother’s people interfering, and when 
they did it was too late. Gertrude and her hus- 
band had gone away ; I did not even know where 
they were. How could I dream that she would 
die, he marry again — oh, Dick, forgive me; I 
have done wrong, but I have been punished.” 

“ I will forgive you. Aunt Helen,” said Dick, 
earnestly, taking the trembling hands in his; 
‘‘ only tell me where my little sister is now, and I 
will forgive and forget everything.” 


198 


ONLY DOLLIE 


“ Tell you where she is,” repeated Mrs. Leroy, 
in puzzled surprise ; “ why I thought you said — 
what was it that you did say? I have almost for- 
gotten. Something about a message from Dollie.” 

“ Yes, to be sure,” exclaimed Dick, who, truth 
to tell, had quite forgotten his original errand, in 
the surprise and excitement of the past five min- 
utes. “ Little Dollie Foster — at least, I don’t 
know whether her name is really Foster, but the 
little girl to whom you gave the five dollars the 
day before yesterday. She has gotten into a 
scrape, poor little thing; Mrs. Foster — the woman 
with whom she lives — refuses to believe her story 
as to how she came by the money, and — why. 
Aunt Helen, what is it? What’s the matter? ” 

“ Dick,” said Mrs. Leroy, and her voice was 
strangely low and hoarse, “ you asked me to tell 
you what I did with your little sister, Dorothy. 
I gave her to a dear friend of mine, named Ger- 
trude Foster — a young married woman, who hav- 
ing no children of her own, was very anxious to 
adopt a little girl. She and her husband took the 
child away, and after a time I lost track of them, 
and the next news I had was a short time ago, 
when I learned, through a mutual acquaintance, 
that my old friend was dead, and that Mr. Foster 
had married again. I came to New York on pur- 


DICK MAKES A CALL 


199 


pose to see Frank Foster, and try to persuade 
him to let me have my little niece. I obtained his 
address, and called at his house the day before yes- 
terday. The door was opened to me by a child — 
a little girl with eyes like my own Dorothy’s. She 
told me her name was Dorothy, and she also told 
me her story. It was simple, but it almost broke 
my heart. She said her uncle — as she called him 
— was away, but would return in a few days. I 
had no wish to see the second Mrs. Foster, and I 
knew that I could not take the child away without 
making myself known, but I gave her a five dol- 
lar bill, and told her to buy what she pleased with 
it. I am only waiting now to see Frank Foster, 
and then — ” 

“ Frank Foster,” repeated Dick, stupidly, star- 
ing at his aunt, with an expression of blank 
amazement on his handsome face,“ little Dollie 
— Aunt Helen, I don’t think I quite understand. 
You mean that little Dollie Foster — the child to 
whom you gave that money — is my — ” 

' “ She is your own sister, Dick,” said Mrs. Le- 

roy, solemnly ; “ I knew her the moment I saw 
her, and there is not the faintest shadow of a 
doubt.” 


CHAPTER XI 


HOME AND FRIENDS 

W HAT a long, long afternoon that was 
to Dollie, shut up in her cold little 
room, with no one to speak to, and 
nothing to do but sit shivering on the bed, count- 
ing the minutes till five o’clock. She had tried 
to eat her lunch, but the cold beefsteak and cold 
baked potato were not specially palatable, so she 
contented herself with bread and butter and a 
glass of water, and then took up a book and tried 
to read. But it was of no use, and the letters 
danced before her eyes, and after turning over a 
couple of pages, she put it down again in despair; 
she had not understood a word of what she had 
been reading. No one disturbed her; no one came 
near her. What a strange Christmas Eve it was ; 
certainly not like any Christmas Eve she had ever 
read about in story books. 

The door bell rang several times, and at last 
she heard the voices of Mrs. Foster and Flora, 


200 


HOME AND FRIENDS 


201 


and knew that they had returned. Flora came up 
stairs to her room, and Dollie heard her aunt call- 
ing some directions to her about dressing for the 
Norrises' party, but Flora had evidently received 
her instructions, for although she passed Dollie’s 
closed door more than once, she did not knock, or 
make any other sign of interest in the little cul- 
prit. Dollie’s heart swelled, and the big tears 
splashed down into her lap. Flora had always been 
kind before; it was evident that she too believed 
her to be what Mrs. Foster had called her. Oh, 
it was hard and cruel — hard and cruel ! Then she 
remembered Dick Marston, and a ray of comfort 
stole into her poor little aching heart. Dick might 
not be able to save her — all that would depend on 
Mrs. Leroy — but at least it was a comfort to 
know that she had one true friend in the world. 

A clock in the next room struck five, and Dol- 
lie’s heart began to beat fast again. Dick had 
promised to be at the hotel precisely at five. She 
was too restless to sit still any longer; she got up 
and went to the window to look out. It was al- 
most dark, and the street lamps were already 
lighted. The street seemed full of people, all 
hurrying home, and all canning parcels. At the 
Norrises' opposite there were lights in almost 
every room, and she caught glimpses of hurrying 


202 


ONLY DOLLIE 


figures flitting to and fro. At seven the Christ- 
mas Tree would be lighted, and then everybody 
would be happy. Even Dick would forget about 
her then, even if he had said it was a shame Mrs. 
Foster wouldn’t let her come to the party. She 
turned away from the window, with a choking 
sob, and crept back to her old place on the 
bed. 

The clock struck half past five. Dollie’s heart 
sank very low indeed. It could not surely take 
very long for Dick to explain matters to Mrs. Le- 
roy. Perhaps Mrs. Leroy had not come in; per- 
haps she had changed her plans, and gone away 
altogether, leaving no address behind her. Per- 
haps Dick had gotten tired of waiting, and gone 
home to dress for the party. Dollie buried her 
face in the pillow, and she cried softly and hope- 
lessly. 

Hark! What was that? A ring at the door 
bell at last. Dollie sprang to her feet, and then 
sank back in her place again, trembling in every 
limb. Was it Dick? Had he come to explain? 
Would Mrs. Foster be made to believe? She 
waited breathlessly. The moments passed, and no 
one came to summon her; she heard no other 
sound. Perhaps Dick was in the parlor, talking 
to Mrs. Foster, but surely — surely, he would 


HOME AND FRIENDS 


203 


know how anxious she was; he would send some 
one to tell her that all was well. 

At last there was a sound; some one was com- 
ing up the stairs very fast. Dollie gasped, but did 
not move. The handle of her door was turned, it 
opened, and Sarah put in her head. 

“ You’re wanted in the parlor right away.” 

“What is it? who wants me?” Dollie asked 
in a voice that was scarcely above a whisper. 

“Never you mind; you just run along, and 
you’ll find out soon enough. Oh my ! if Mrs. Fos- 
ter ain’t catching it ! ” and Sarah actually clapped 
her hands softly, in the excess of her enjoyment. 

How Dollie managed to get down those two 
long flights of stairs she never exactly knew. She 
had to walk very slowly, and cling tight to the 
banisters, her knees shook so, and there was 
such a queer mist before her eyes. She did reach 
the parlor door at last, however, guided more by 
the sound of voices than by any actual sight. Then 
she paused, afraid to go any further. But some- 
body had seen her — somebody had hurried for- 
ward to meet her — and next moment loving arms 
were round her, tender kisses on her cheeks. The 
mist cleared away, and she caught one glimpse of 
Mrs. Norris’ sweet, motherly face bending over 
her, all quivering with some emotion that she 


204 


ONLY DOLLIE 


did not understand, but that was neither anger 
nor contempt. Then she buried her head on the 
kind shoulder, with one little sob of fright, and 
joy and relief, all mingled together. 

What happened after that was much more- like 
a dream, or a scene out of a story book, than any 
actual every day reality. Dollie sat on Mrs. Nor- 
ris’ lap, with that lady’s arms about her, and list- 
ened to a wonderful, beautiful story, which she 
did not for one moment believe could be really 
true. It was all about a girl named Dorothy, 
who was not a little drudge, but who had friends 
and relations — oh, so many relations — aunts and 
uncles and cousins, and — yes, actually — a big 
brother of her very own. Dollie thought what a 
very happy girl that Dorothy must be, and then 
she pinched herself to see if she would not wake 
up. It was all a dream, she was quite sure of that 
but it certainly was the most beautiful dream she 
had ever had in her life. 

There were several other people mixed up with 
that strange, beautiful dream. Dick Marston, pale 
but radiant, hovering over her, and kissing her re- 
peatedly. Mrs. Leroy, also pale and agitated, 
and with her pocket handkerchief at her eyes. 
And Mrs. Foster flushed and nervous,. but unusu- 
ally silent. At last some one said something about 


HOME AND FRIENDS 


205 


going home. Then Dollie’s hat and jacket were 
brought, and Dick helped her put them on; she 
was so dazed and confused she could not do much 
for herself. Then Mrs. Foster came forward, and 
spoke to her for the first time. 

“ Aren’t you going to say good-bye to me, Dol- 
lie ? I’m sorry I made a mistake about the money. 
I found the five dollars I thought I had lost; it 
was only mislaid, after all. I’m very sorry.” 

The sound of the familiar voice roused Dollie 
as nothing else had done, and all at once she real- 
ized that this was not a dream, after all, but a 
beautiful, blissful reality. Then such a sudden 
rush of joy swept over her as almost deprived her 
of the power of speech. 

“ Good-bye,” she said, in a weak, trembling lit- 
tle voice, as she held out her hand ; “ don’t feel 
sorry, it’s all right, and I’m so happy I don’t mind 
about anything in the world.” 

Mrs. Foster just touched the tips of her fingers, 
and then Dick drew her away, and in another mo- 
ment they had left the house which Dollie was 
never again to enter as a little drudge. 

Two hours later the Christmas Tree was spark- 
ling in all its radiance of wealth and beauty; the 
party was in full swing. Flora was there, re- 


2o6 


ONLY DOLLIE 


joicing heartily in her friend’s good fortune, and 
privately whispering io Maud that Aunt Kate 
looked like a thunder cloud, and was so cross, she 
had actually refused to look at her new pretty 
dress.” Mrs. Leroy was not there; she had 
slipped quietly away back to her hotel, escorted by 
Dick, but with a lighter heart than she had known 
in many a day, and a promise to return on the fol- 
lowing day, and join in the family Christmas 
dinner, for on that happy Christmas Eve every- 
thing was forgotten and forgiven. 

Dollie’s romantic story had quickly spread 
among the guests, and all eyes were turned to- 
wards the corner where the little figure — hastily 
arrayed in one of Maud’s party dresses — sat, 
closely guarded by Dick and Amy. 

“ Please don’t make me talk to people,” Dollie 
had whispered with an appealing glance at Dick; 

I’m so very, very happy, I don’t want to do one 
single thing but just sit and think.” 

That was a beautiful Christmas Tree and a 
most successful party, every one declared, and 
Dick and Dollie were the hero and heroine of the 
hour. But when it was all over and Dollie had 
gone to bed in the little room that opened out of 
Maud’s and Amy’s, and Mrs. Norris came, as she 
always did to give her little girls a last good night 



DoLLIK crept softly out of bed and knelt down and I'OLDED 

HER HANDS Page 207 






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HOME AND FRIENDS 


207 


kiss, and bent over Dollie, with the tender mother 
light in her eyes, then Dollie felt that the crown- 
ing moment of her happiness had come. And 
later still, when Maud and Amy had fallen asleep, 
and everything was very still, Dollie, who could 
not sleep for happiness, crept softly out of bed, 
and with a sudden impulse, knelt down and folded 
her hands. Mrs. Norris stealing upstairs in her 
wrapper, just to make sure that everything was 
well, saw the little kneeling figure, and waited si- 
lently till Dollie should rise. And when Dollie 
did rise, and saw the sweet kind face looking so 
tenderly down upon her, she smiled happily, and 
whispered as her aunt tucked her up in her little 
bed once more : — 

'' I just wanted to tell God all about it, he's 
made me so very, very happy ; I don’t believe there 
is anyone in the world quite so happy as I am 
to-night.” 

What a Christmas that was! Even in her 
wildest day-dreams Dollie had never conceived of 
anything half so delightful. There had been happy 
Christmases long ago, when Aunt Gertrude was 
alive, but then Dollie had had the fun and the 
presents all to herself, and now there were Maud 
and Amy and Dick to share it with her. Amy 


2o8 


ONLY DOLLIE 


woke her with a kiss and a “ Merry Christmas ” 
at half past six, and Maud brought her her stock- 
ing crammed with goodies. What fun they had 
over the surprises contained in those stockings, 
and then there were all the other presents to be 
opened and examined. Mr. and Mrs. Norris had 
determined that Dollie should fare every bit as 
well as Maud and Amy, and Mr. Norris had 
stolen out late on the previous evening, paid a 
visit to several interesting shops, and returned so 
well laden that Dollie’s eyes opened wide in 
amazement at sight of the goodly array of parcels 
beside her plate at the breakfast table, and she 
whispered to Dick, who still hovered about her 
as if half afraid to let her out of his sight: — 

“ I do believe it’s a fairy story after all, and 
I shall wake up pretty soon, and find I’ve been 
dreaming all the time.” 

In the course of the morning Sarah appeared 
bearing a parcel directed to Dollie, which on be- 
ing opened was found to contain all the precious 
Christmas presents intact. 

What would you like to do with them, Dol- 
lie ? ” Mrs. Norris asked, as Dollie regarded her 
restored treasures, with loving eyes. 

‘‘ Do you think I might mark them and send 
them over ? ” Dollie suggested, a little wistfully.* 


HOME AND FRIENDS 


209 


“ I should like to have Flora and the children 
know I had remembered them, and Sarah and the 
cook, too — they were always so kind.*^ 

Mrs. Norris thought that might be a very good 
plan, and Dick and Amy produced pencil and 
paper, and assisted Dollie in marking the various 
articles. When it came to the needle book Dick 
hesitated. 

“ What shall we do with this ? he inquired in 
a tone of some disgust. Dick was not inclined to 
forgive Mrs. Foster. 

Dollie flushed, and looked a little embarrassed. 

'' I bought it for Mrs. Foster you know,'^ she 
said, slowly. '' I think I should like her to have 
it, just to show her Fm not angry. She wasn’t 
always so horrid, and Fd like to have her know 
I was grateful for all the times she was nice.” 

Dick looked for a moment as if he would like 
to object, but another glance at Dollie’s sweet, 
earnest little face caused him to change his mind, 
and he gave her a kiss instead. 

So the presents were despatched, and later in 
the day Flora appeared, bearing a note of thanks 
from Sarah and the cook, and the assurance that 
Ralph and Tootie were both delighted with their 
toys, and that she herself considered the calendar 
the very prettiest she had ever seen. About her 


210 


ONLY DOLLIE 


aunt she said nothing, and Dollie considered it 
wise not to ask any questions. Uncle Frank’s 
present had been kept to give him when he came 
home. Uncle Frank would at least rejoice in her 
good fortune, Dollie felt quite sure of that. 

“ What are you thinking of Dollie? ” Dick in- 
quired, slipping an arm about his little sister’s 
waist, as she stood on the rug, looking into the 
fire with shining happy eyes, that evening, when 
the family dinner was over, and the elders — in- 
cluding Mrs. Leroy — were sitting together, talk- 
ing in low, happy voices, of the plans for the 
future, in all of which Dollie was to have her 
share. 

I was thinking,” said Dollie, raising her eyes 
to her brother’s face, “ how very, very happy I 
am, and wondering if I could ever be good enough 
to deserve it all. Dick, do you think there is an- 
other girl in the world who has had such a per- 
fectly, perfectly beautiful Christmas as I have ? ” 


CONCLUSION 


T here is very little more to tell. Dollie — 
she is Dorothy Marston now — is no 
longer a little drudge. She goes to 
school with Maud and Amy, and is rapidly mak- 
ing up for lost time. Happiness certainly agrees 
with her very well, and Mr. Norris tells his wife 
privately, that “ little Dollie is growing prettier 
every day.’’ She was always a gentle, loving 
little soul, and it has not taken her many weeks 
to make a warm nest for herself in the kind hearts 
of each and all of her newly found relations. 
She and Amy are devoted friends. Maud de- 
clares that “ Dollie is the nicest girl she ever 
knew,” and as for Mrs. Norris, Dick and Mrs. 
Leroy, they simply worship her. It will be a 
fortunate thing if she is not quite spoiled among 
them, but then, as Dick says, she is a rather un- 
spoilable person. 

Mr. Foster was honestly delighted to learn on 
his return, of the fortunate turn Dollie’s affairs 
had taken, and he made no objection whatever to 


211 


212 


ONLY DOLLIE 


her being provided for by her relations, only in- 
sisting upon giving into Mr. Norris’ care the small 
sum of money which Aunt Gertrude had left to 
her adopted daughter. Dollie had never heard of 
that sum before; perhaps Mrs. Foster had had 
something to do with that fact. Dollie does not 
visit her old home, but Uncle Frank has been 
over to see her several times, and the new nurse 
has been requested to bring Ralph and Tootie to 
spend an occasional afternoon with their old play- 
mate. Flora still keeps up her old acquaintance 
with the Norris girls, and rejoices heartily in Dol- 
lie’s happiness, but Mrs. Norris and Mrs. Foster 
no longer exchange calls, and the latter invariably 
makes it a point to look the other way, whenever 
she happens to meet any of the Norris family in 
the street. 

Mrs. Leroy did not go directly back to her 
home in New Orleans as she had originally in- 
tended, but took a furnished apartment in New 
York for the winter, and only the other day she 
told Mrs. Norris — for the two ladies are very 
good friends now — that these are the happiest 
days she has known in years. She would gladly 
have adopted Dollie as her own little girl, but 
that the Norrises would not allow, although they 
could not refuse when she pleaded so earnestly to 


CONCLUSION 


213 


be allowed to do something for her niece, so it is 
Aunt Helen who pays the school bills and supplies 
Dollie with pocket money to an extent which 
would be very bad indeed for some little girls, 
but which somehow doesn’t seem to hurt Dollie 
a bit. 

'' It’s so beautiful to be able to buy things for 
people,” she confided to Dick a short time ago. 
‘‘ When I used to build castles in the air, I al- 
ways planned to give every one presents. It was 
fun to think about, but I never, never dreamed it 
would really happen. It’s all like a fairy story, 
only a thousand million times nicer. Oh, Dick, 
dear, are you quite sure you think I can really be 
good enough to deserve it?” 

It is scarcely necessary to record Dick’s answer ; 
suffice it to say, Dollie blushed very red indeed, 
and looked happier than ever. 


THE END 





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